Chapter 3179 The Prizes

Even before Zen joined in the Oneness Sky Palace, Winchell had competed with Athemar to win him over to the Origin Mountain.

Although Winchell was joking now, he felt regretful on the inside. After watching Zen's impeccable performance at the Seven Mountains Meeting, he realized the Origin Mountain shouldn't have compromised on it back then.

"It's not that I had no faith in Zen, but be honest, did you ever anticipate such a performance out of them in the beginning?" Athemar retorted in a defensive tone.

The methods Zen and Elvinia had used at the Seven Mountains Meeting had never been witnessed before. Therefore, it rendered forecasting the result based on past experiences useless.

No one, including Athemar, Goran and Winchell, had imagined Elvinia and Zen would control the runes in such a new way. But it was inappropriate to express their doubts on them now.

As for Zen, since he had used the Truth Enlightenment that Elvinia had mentioned, he had already made mental preparations. If Athemar really was going to ask him about it, he would know how to respond.

Since they were surrounded by many disciples at this moment, it was not the right time to inquire about such things. Suddenly, Goran's loud voice echoed in everyone's ears as he announced, "The Flow Sword Sect has taken the top rank at this year's Seven Mountains Meeting. The Origin Mountain finished second and the Ivory Mountain third. You may come to me and receive your prizes now."

As soon as the announcement of the victors was made, the elite disciples of the Flow Sword Sect, Origin Mountain, and Ivory Mountain, who had been thrown off their respective stones, flew up towards the top of the metal mountain.

"Ivory Mountain disciples, come forth and take your prizes first!" Goran announced.

One after the other, the twenty Ivory Mountain disciples assembled by the side of Goran and reached out their palms towards him.

Goran began to move his lips as he chanted words under his breath; then he reached out to clap their palms with his.

Every time Goran repeated this gesture, some simple lines would be seen as an effect on a disciple's palm.

When Zen noticed these lines, his eyes instantly widened. "Are these soul marks?" he asked.

"Yes, they are. With the soul mark I give you, you can go to the temple within three days and get a soul crystal," Goran answered as he chuckled at Zen's expressive astonishment.

The soul mark Zen got from the Flow Sword Sect was a small token that recorded syllables, which required him to recite for it to work. Never did he expect Goran was able to give the soul marks to the disciples with a simple gesture of slapping their palms.

Something as ordinary as a sou

hade Phoenix Sword gently, Athemar was a little surprised. It was common for others to think so highly of an Other Shore Treasure. However, Zen was different; he owned a Grand Nature Treasure himself. Athemar didn't expect him to have attached such great importance to the sword.

After the rewards ceremony was over, Goran asked the disciples to leave the cave. On top of the mountain, a feast was prepared for them, which was supervised by Tacy and her companions.

Just as everyone began to walk back the same way they came from, Goran asked Zen and Elvinia to stay behind.

Elvinia frowned bitterly at this gesture. With her status, if she wanted to leave, Goran and the others wouldn't be able to stop her. Besides, she knew the reason why she was asked to stay.

However, she was also curious about how Zen had managed to master the Truth Enlightenment. Moreover, he seemed to have grasped the technique better than her, so she stayed in the cave.

After the disciples left one after the other, only six people remained in the cave.

Athemar raised his hand and made some gestures. Those giant stones began to fly up from all directions of the cave. At the same time, all the runes on the stones started to glow, and soon the stones gathered around the metal mountain.

"The runes on the stones were made by me with the help of the Imperial Sword Seal. But even I cannot compete with the two of you in making use of them. I'm really curious. Has your father made any breakthrough, Princess Elvinia?" Athemar asked as he leaned in closer.

Zen nodded secretly when he heard what Athemar had to say, which was similar to his thoughts.

"I don't know. I haven't seen my father in a long time." As she said this, she lowered her gaze to the ground as a hint of depression appeared on her calm face.