After the Sword Saint left, the disciples immediately relaxed, all of them asking Wan Lei in a flurry of questions.
"Senior Brother Wan, congratulations on becoming the strongest殿子 in the Tai Xu Realm of the Five Elements Hall! Junior brother wants to ask you, how did you manage to escape death by faking it in the end?"
"I'll ask first! Senior Brother Wan, what divine ability were those nine whips you swung at the end? They were on par with the Mortal World Nine Swords. Did you create this divine ability yourself?"
"Senior Brother Wan, what did Jian Fan Chen mean when he said you weren't going all out at the end? How did he know you weren't going all out, and were you really not?"
"Senior Brother Wan defeated Jian Fan Chen without going all out, truly the number one person in our Five Elements Hall."
"Was that clone a divine ability? If it weren't for that clone in the end, could you still have defeated Jian Fan Chen?"
"Senior Brother Wan's divine abilities are definitely not weaker than Jian Fan Chen's! I'll ask the question everyone cares about the most: Is it true that the Water Hall Master taught you the Wind and Rain Calling technique?"
"What's your relationship with the Water Hall Master? Is there really an underground affair?"
"Have you already won over the gentlest of the Four Beauties in our Five Elements Hall? When did it happen? Was it last time you went to the Water Hall to see the Water Saint?"
"Can you reveal when you two started dating?"
"How long have you been in love? When do you plan to have children?"
Listening to the topic veer further and further off course, Wan Lei was dumbfounded, unsure of what to do for a moment.
What was all this? What did they mean he and Xi Sha were involved? Where did these rumors come from?
"Shut up, all of you! Where are these rumors coming from? I only said that Xi Sha taught me my divine abilities, I didn't say anything else. Don't spread baseless gossip."
Wan Lei, furious, shouted a defense.
"See, he's even calling her Xi Sha. We all call her Hall Master or Water Saint."
"Besides the other Saints, who else dares to call her that? And you say there's nothing going on between you?"
"Are you feeling pressured by love rivals like the Fire Hall Master and the Gold Hall Master?"
"Brother Wan, can you reveal the method? This junior is willing to take you as his master."
Wan Lei, the God of War who had been undefeated since arriving at the Five Elements Hall, even conquering a hundred trials consecutively, finally fled in disarray under the pursuit of the crowd.
One mouth couldn't defeat a million mouths…
It was just a pity that the Fire Hall Master was in seclusion at this time. Even though the Water Hall Master's pretty face was flushed with anger, and the Gold Hall Master gnashed his teeth, the most suitable person to take the blame and be used as a pawn was unavailable. They could only swallow their anger in silence…
It was rumored that the Water Hall Master was so angry that she ate several small biscuits and cakes, not worrying about gaining weight…
Wan Lei, with Lei Xin and Lei Ting holding his legs off the ground, finally escaped the entanglement and returned to his cave dwelling.
Xiao Jin, quick as lightning, squeezed in before Wan Lei sealed his cave dwelling.
The shouts of the Enforcement Team could be heard from outside, and only then did the crowd gradually disperse.
Watching the people outside leave, the four people inside the cave dwelling finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Here, take these pills and heal your wounds quickly. The fight you had with Jian Fan Chen was truly fierce."
Lei Ting took out some pills and handed them to Wan Lei.
"Thank you,殿子 Senior Brother."
Wan Lei, without even looking, swallowed all the pills.
"Don't say that. From now on, you are the殿子 Senior Brother. I am your junior brother."
"No, no, no. I'm not interested in the position of殿子. You can keep being the殿子. Don't bestow that title upon me."
Lei Ting's face turned dark. Was his position as殿子 so unpopular?
Finally, after friendly negotiation, Lei Ting continued to be the Lei Hall殿子. As for Wan Lei, he gained the title of Five Elements Hall殿子.
The Strongest殿子, Unaffiliated with a Hall.
After all, this was a peerless prodigy who could even defeat Jian Fan Chen.
Looking at Wan Lei's sparsely furnished cave dwelling, Lei Ting sighed repeatedly.
"Senior Brother Wan possesses heaven-sent talent, yet he not only refrains from indulging in pleasure but treats himself so harshly, living in such a simple place. He constantly reminds himself to adhere to his original intentions, cultivate diligently, and not be swayed or corrupted by a life of luxury. This spirit is truly worthy of my utmost admiration."
Wan Lei rolled his eyes upon hearing this. As expected, anyone who is powerful finds everything they do to be powerful. If he were a bottom-tier disciple of the Five Elements Hall, this cave dwelling would likely be criticized as impoverished.
"殿子 Senior Brother is too kind."
"Oh dear, from now on, the days for me and the other three殿子 from the Ninety-Nine Trials will be difficult. Originally, the Hundredth Trial only had Jian Fan Chen. Now you've been added.
If we encounter Jian Fan Chen during a challenge, it's one thing. But if we encounter you, we truly have no chance of winning.
It will be even harder to pass the Hundredth Trial from now on."
Brother, even if you encountered Jian Fan Chen, it would still be a one-sword defeat. Whether I'm here or not makes no difference to you.
However, it was true. Originally, the only mountain pressing down on the hearts of all the殿子 was Jian Fan Chen. Now there were two.
They chatted for a while longer, but regarding Wan Lei's divine abilities and other secrets, Lei Xin and Lei Ting wisely didn't ask too many questions. After all, Wan Lei was a rogue cultivator before, so it was normal for him to have secrets.
After Lei Ting and Lei Xin took their leave, only Wan Lei and Xiao Jin remained in the cave dwelling.
Xiao Jin was perhaps Wan Lei's best friend in the Five Elements Hall. He had known him since before his assessment and had accompanied him all the way until now.
Although his combat power was a bit weak, defeated with one punch from me, his character and disposition were still good.
I never judge my friends based on their talent or combat power. They're not as strong as me anyway.
At this moment, both Xiao Jin and Wan Lei were excited looking at the 2,999 merit points displayed on Wan Lei's personal profile in the Five Elements Hall's disciple records.
"Brother Wan, I've been in the Five Elements Hall for decades and haven't earned this many merit points. You've only been here for less than half a year and earned so much. You truly are the strongest殿子 of the Five Elements Hall."
"Envious? I earned it with my life."
Wan Lei chuckled.
Indeed, both the mission to investigate the Saints and the mission in the Tower of Creation were purgatory-level tasks where one could lose their life at any moment.
Especially in the final battle, if Wan Lei hadn't had the fake body, he would have died by Jian Fan Chen's sword by now.
Even if Jian Fan Chen would be punished afterward, what good would that do? He would already be dead.
"Brother Wan, with so many merit points, you can go to the Merit Hall to exchange for divine abilities or magical treasures. You can get quite a lot."
"We'll talk about it later. No rush."
One reason was that he still needed merit points to apply for a position. Another was that he didn't want too many Five Elements Hall magical treasures. He had even made plans to abandon everything related to the Five Elements Hall after rescuing Fang Xiaoyu. Who knew if those things contained any hidden tracking mechanisms.
"By the way, Brother Jin, now that I have so many merit points, can I apply for a position?"