Chapter 64

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Today, it's been quite a day, hasn't it?

Amid the violent shaking, like a magnitude 9 earthquake, the summit of Bright Peak collapsed helplessly and slowly.

In the end, Bright Peak was left as nothing but a dusty ruin, its height reduced by at least 300 meters!

All of the Ming Cult's assets on Bright Peak, including tens of thousands of halls and rooms, over ten thousand cult members, and more than 5,000 various combatants who remained on Bright Peak, all perished with the collapse of the peak.

The six major sects could only continue to retreat.

Seeing the collapse of Bright Peak and the destruction of the Ming Cult, the people of the six major sects were dumbfounded.

Their gazes toward Lin Qing no longer held any trace of contempt, but rather, genuine admiration!

They had launched a strong attack on the Ming Cult, only to be nearly wiped out.

But Lin Qing destroyed the Ming Cult with just one person.

He alone, destroyed the Ming Cult!

Lin Qing finally checked his records.

"Your strategy has destroyed the headquarters of the Ming Cult."

"Your contribution to the Wudang Sect has increased to 100 points."

"You have completed the consecutive task [Destroy the Ming Cult], and you have the right to immediately claim the reward for this task."

Lin Qing took a deep breath and chose to claim the reward.

"You have completed six steps of the task, and the rewards will be cumulatively distributed."

"[Destroy the Ming Cult] Reward 1: You have received 10,000 points of righteous reputation."

"Your reputation has reached 21,345 points."

"You have achieved a new accomplishment: [Master of the Martial World]!"

"Since you are the first adventurer to achieve this accomplishment as a beginner, your reward will be increased by 50%."

"[Destroy the Ming Cult] Reward 2: You will unconditionally receive a map to a hidden secret realm in this world."

"You have obtained the unique hidden secret realm map [Ice and Fire Island]."

"[Ice and Fire Island] contains the secrets of the Dragon Slaying Saber and Xie Xun. It is extremely difficult and requires advanced navigation skills to reach."

"[Destroy the Ming Cult] Reward 3: You have received a special reward, increasing your skill slots by one."

Lin Qing's skill slots increased from 6 to 7. He would later realize how precious this reward was.

"The rewards for [Destroy the Ming Cult] have been fully distributed."

"Since you have destroyed the Ming Cult, your enmity with the Ming Cult is permanent. Any member of the Ming Cult will unconditionally hate you and seek to kill you."

"Your enmity with Zhang Wuji has reached 100 points."

Lin Qing laughed heartily.

Looking at the Ming Cult destroyed by Lin Qing alone, the Venerable Kongzhi, Song Yuanqiao, the Venerable Miaojue, He Taichong, and others exchanged glances.

Looking at Lin Qing's back, Zhou Zhiruo's beautiful eyes sparkled.

"You have rescued the Emei Sect and the six major sects! You have earned the respect of the six major sects."

"Due to your achievements and performance, Zhou Zhiruo's affection for you has increased by 20 points, reaching 80 points."

"You have triggered Zhou Zhiruo's affection condition, and she has secretly pledged her heart to you."

"You can exchange Zhou Zhiruo with your fortune points."

"Zhou Zhiruo's current strength rating: C-level. Aptitude: [Swordsmanship] A-level, [Strategy] B-level. Current skills: Emei Swordsmanship Level 4, Emei Nine Yang Gong Level 3."

"Note: The female lead has normal growth potential. Aptitude refers to her talent for growth, ranging from S-level to D-level. The higher the aptitude, the faster the growth, and the higher the future achievements."

"Exchange requires 1,000 fortune points."

Lin Qing was satisfied with his gains. After the smoke cleared, some figures, covered in dust, stood before the six major sects.

Yang Xiao, White-Browed Eagle King, Green-Winged Bat King, Zhang Wuji, and the five members of the Hong Bang team.

Of the vast Bright Peak headquarters and tens of thousands of cult members, only these nine people survived!

This was only thanks to Zhang Wuji's protagonist aura that the elite core of the Ming Cult was preserved.

Lin Qing sighed.

The plot wouldn't allow him to destroy the Ming Cult so easily.

The Ming Cult still existed, but it was severely weakened.

Zhang Wuji stared at Lin Qing, his eyes blazing with fury.

Because, following the Venerable Miaojue's instructions, Zhou Zhiruo stood timidly behind Lin Qing.

This identity was clear enough.

Lin Qing, wearing the sect leader's ring, holding the Heaven-Slaying Sword, and possessing the identity of the Emei Sect leader, had destroyed the Ming Cult!

His reputation had reached the status of Master of the Martial World!

The six major sects obeyed him without question.

And Zhang Wuji?

At this moment, even with his godlike martial arts and fortune, Zhang Wuji was merely a rising star in the Ming Cult, not even the leader.

What did he have to compete with Lin Qing?

Why would Zhou Zhiruo marry him?

Lin Qing glanced at Zhou Zhiruo and, without hesitation, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, hugging her tightly in front of the six major sects!

Zhou Zhiruo, surprised by Lin Qing's boldness, blushed deeply and buried her head in his chest.

If it were anyone else, Zhou Zhiruo would have slapped them immediately.

How could an unmarried girl's purity be so easily compromised?

But now, it was different.

Compromising purity depends on the situation.

If it were an ordinary person, it would be despicable and unacceptable. But if it were Song Qing, the Emei Sect leader and benefactor of the six sects, it was different.

Which young girl doesn't dream of love? Which daughter could resist?

This was called romance!

Zhou Zhiruo's heart raced like a hundred little rabbits, but she felt nothing but sweetness.

The many female disciples of the Emei Sect looked on with envy.

Especially Ding Minjun.

She was almost driven mad with jealousy.

Song Qing becoming the sect leader was already enough to make her despair.

Now, Song Qing had publicly claimed Zhou Zhiruo, his junior sister. Was Zhou Zhiruo about to become the sect leader's wife?

Was this fate conspiring against her, Ding Minjun?

But to Zhang Wuji, it was a different kind of bitterness.

Song Qing was openly challenging him.

At this moment, he didn't know Zhao Min, and Zhou Zhiruo was everything to him.

Lin Qing's expression remained calm.

He had always believed that in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," Zhou Zhiruo's tragedy was largely due to Zhang Wuji's responsibility!

Some say that Zhang Wuji never asked Zhou Zhiruo to do anything bad, so why should he be blamed for her downfall?

But the question is, why did Zhou Zhiruo fall?

Zhou Zhiruo's dark turn began when the Venerable Miaojue passed the leadership to her and made her swear a deadly oath. Before that, Zhou Zhiruo was a pure and kind girl.

From that night on, she was burdened with a heavy destiny.

The Emei Sect's revenge was cruelly placed on a girl with average martial arts skills and mediocre talent.

She had to avenge her master.

Zhou Zhiruo was loyal to her master, who raised her, and she was determined to complete this impossible task.

But how could she do it?

She had no resources, no methods, and no helpers.

Zhang Wuji's attitude told Zhou Zhiruo that he would not contribute anything, let alone help her.

What could Zhou Zhiruo do?

Under such pressure, one either remains silent or becomes twisted.

She was driven to a dead end by fate.

As the only man she trusted and loved, Zhang Wuji's only response was to run away.

To avoid.

No understanding, no persuasion, no help.

Only confusion after everything went wrong.

Did such a man deserve the kind-hearted Zhou Zhiruo?

Imagine if Zhang Wuji truly loved Zhou Zhiruo, if he had actively sought her out, spent every day with her, and truly been with her. Would Zhou Zhiruo have taken that path of no return?

Fortunately, none of this happened in this parallel world.

Lin Qing would not let it happen.

He would protect Zhou Zhiruo.

This pure and innocent Zhou Zhiruo.

He would not let her bear the heavy burden of destiny or take on responsibilities she could not handle.

She would only need to hide under his wings, live in the inner chambers, and use her intelligence, beauty, gentleness, and kindness to support him and raise their children, being a good wife and mother to him, Lin Qing.

Lin Qing would create a world for this kind-hearted Zhou Zhiruo.

Lin Qing lowered his head and gently kissed the shy and innocent Zhou Zhiruo.

A kiss sealed their bond.

Zhou Zhiruo stiffened.

She trembled, closed her beautiful eyes, and enjoyed the tenderness of the man known throughout the world, who publicly showed his affection for her.

The Venerable Miaojue smiled with satisfaction behind them.

Her wish was fulfilled.

In her view, Zhou Zhiruo marrying Song Qing was the perfect outcome.

A match made in heaven.