Boom!
With the sound of violent collisions and roars, the four figures were all sent flying backward. By the final day, the results of the four matches had finally emerged.
As the four figures flew back, Li Xuan's slightly closed eyes immediately opened.
"Xin Hongye, Chu Liguo, Zhuang Wenyao, Li Liqing. Hmm, not bad." Looking at the four figures still standing in the Thunder Bamboo Forest, Li Xuan nodded slightly. Then, with a wave of his hand, spiritual energy was instantly injected into their bodies.
In an instant, the four men's auras quickly recovered.
Li Liqing and the other three felt their conditions and all bowed to Li Xuan with clasped fists. Then, after exchanging glances, they walked together towards Li Xuan's location.
"Greetings, Senior Li." Li Liqing and the other three arrived before Li Xuan and bowed to him. After all, even the great elder Jiang Wentong addressed Li Xuan as senior, so with their seniority, they naturally had to show respect as juniors.
Moreover, after this month, the four of them were thoroughly impressed by Li Xuan's methods and became even more respectful.
Even Li Liqing was filled with reverence for Li Xuan. His former rival was now someone whose footsteps he could no longer chase.
Li Xuan smiled and nodded, then said, "Not bad. To have reached this stage is a testament to the Martial Hall's cultivation of you. However, there are only three positions for the masters of the three War Halls. Now that you four have emerged victorious, I will have to think carefully."
As Li Xuan finished speaking, he waved his hand, and with a surge of spiritual light, the four of them, including Li Liqing, disappeared from the Thunder Bamboo Forest.
"Elder Wentong, esteemed elders, accompany me," Li Xuan said to Jiang Wentong and the others as he appeared outside the Thunder Bamboo Forest with the four of them.
Jiang Wentong and the others all bowed slightly in response. The month-long trial had passed, and the masters of the three War Halls would undoubtedly be chosen from these four. As for who it would be, it was clear from Li Xuan's demeanor that he had already made up his mind.
"Senior Li, may I ask how we should proceed now?" Jiang Wentong asked Li Xuan with cupped fists in the main hall of the Martial Hall.
Everyone then turned their gaze to Li Xuan. With four contenders and only three spots, the selection was indeed a difficult task.
Li Xuan smiled and slowly swept his gaze over the four of them, then asked, "What are your thoughts on this?"
Li Liqing and the other three were all taken aback. None of them had expected this outcome. But now that Li Xuan was asking for their thoughts, they didn't know what to say.
"Senior Li, since the four of us have passed Senior Lin's trial, it would seem unfair to disqualify one of us. Therefore, I believe we should have another match, and choose the top three?" Zhuang Wenyao said first, while Li Liqing, Chu Liguo, and Xin Hongye were still contemplating.
As Zhuang Wenyao finished speaking, Jiang Wentong and the others all nodded. If Zhuang Wenyao's suggestion were followed, it would indeed be a fair way to select the masters of the three War Halls.
However, Jiang Wentong and the others did not speak, but looked to Li Xuan for his decision.
Li Xuan smiled and said, "If I recall correctly, your name is Zhuang Wenyao."
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhuang Wenyao's eyes, and he nodded excitedly, bowing and saying, "It is truly a great fortune to be remembered by Senior Li."
Li Xuan waved his hand and replied, "I have already decided on the candidates for the three Hall Masters. I appreciate your suggestion."
Zhuang Wenyao's expression turned slightly awkward, and he lowered his head before cupping his fists and asking, "So Senior Lin has already made his decision. May I ask what your choice is?"
Li Xuan smiled, his gaze lingering on Zhuang Wenyao's eyes for a moment before shifting to Xin Hongye among Li Liqing and the other two. "Xin Hongye, the new Hall Master of the Battle Saint Hall."
As Li Xuan finished speaking, Jiang Wentong and the others present turned their attention to Xin Hongye. With Xin Hongye's current strength, and as the eldest disciple of Wu Xinghai, he was indeed qualified to be the Hall Master of the Battle Saint Hall.
"We, pay our respects to the Grand Hall Master," realizing this, Jiang Wentong, leading the elders of the Battle Saint Hall, bowed and saluted Xin Hongye.
"This, Senior Li, I have never managed any hall affairs before, and I fear I will not be able to do as well as Master," Xin Hongye said humbly.
Li Xuan smiled and waved his hand, "It is nothing. With your strength and comprehension, it will not be difficult to get up to speed. Moreover, Elder Wentong will be assisting you, so there should be no problem."
"The matter of the three War Hall Masters was personally entrusted to me by your master. If you were not qualified, I would not have you as the Grand Hall Master of the Battle Saint Hall. Alright, this matter is settled."
Without giving Xin Hongye a chance to speak, Li Xuan's gaze moved away from him and turned to Chu Liguo. "Chu Liguo, the new Hall Master of the Battle God Hall."
"I accept this command!" Chu Liguo immediately bowed to Li Xuan with cupped fists. Chu Liguo had naturally seen from the conversation between Li Xuan and Xin Hongye that Li Xuan had already made up his mind, and there was no possibility of changing his decision.
"We, pay our respects to the Second Hall Master," Wang Qiang, seeing that Li Xuan had appointed the Hall Master of the Battle God Hall, led the elders of the Battle God Hall in bowing and saluting.
Li Xuan nodded and continued, "Elder Wang Qiang, I will also trouble you to assist Chu Liguo with the matters of the Battle God Hall."
"Senior Lin, please rest assured, I will do my best to assist the Second Hall Master," Wang Qiang replied with a nod.
Li Xuan nodded slightly, his gaze slowly shifting to Li Liqing and Zhuang Wenyao. Even Feng Wei and the others now looked at Li Liqing and Zhuang Wenyao.
The Grand Hall Master and the Second Hall Master had already been chosen, and both happened to be the Holy Sons of the Battle Saint Hall and the Battle God Hall respectively, so there was no objection to their succession as Hall Masters.
However, both Zhuang Wenyao and Li Liqing were Holy Sons of the Battle Soul Hall. How Li Xuan would choose was a matter of curiosity for Feng Wei and the others.
"The new Hall Master of the Battle Soul Hall will be Li Liqing," Li Xuan said after a moment of thought, looking at Li Liqing.
Li Liqing was stunned. He had joined the Battle Soul Hall several years later than Zhuang Wenyao. Moreover, Zhuang Wenyao was the senior disciple of the Battle Soul Hall, and in terms of talent and strength, he almost completely surpassed Li Liqing.
Yet, he had been rejected by Li Xuan?
For a moment, Li Liqing wondered if it was because he and Li Xuan knew each other. If so, Li Liqing was already feeling disappointed.
"We, pay our respects to the Third Hall Master," Feng Wei and the others also showed a hint of surprise, but still bowed in unison to Li Liqing.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenyao's face had been showing unconcealed joy as Li Xuan was about to announce the new Hall Master of the Battle Soul Hall. But after Li Xuan announced the result, Zhuang Wenyao's expression froze, and he looked at Li Xuan with some unease.
"Do you want to ask me why he became the Hall Master instead of you, given your strength and talent?" Li Xuan naturally noticed Zhuang Wenyao's gaze.
It could be said that Li Xuan had not taken his attention away from Zhuang Wenyao from the very beginning.
Zhuang Wenyao took a deep breath and cupped his fists at Li Xuan, "I naturally cannot influence Senior Li's decision. However, I would like to ask Senior Li for the reason for my failure."
Li Xuan tilted his head slightly and looked at Zhuang Wenyao seriously, "Do you really want to know now?"
A subtle flicker of an unusual color appeared in Zhuang Wenyao's eyes, but he nodded, "Please tell me, Senior Lin."
Li Xuan sighed softly and then his lips moved, clearly transmitting a message to Zhuang Wenyao.
Feng Wei, Jiang Wentong, and Wang Qiang looked at each other in confusion.
During the previous trials, they had witnessed the entire process. Zhuang Wenyao's actions did not seem to be out of line. They had originally thought that Li Xuan would explain his choice of Li Liqing in front of everyone, but now, transmitting a message to Zhuang Wenyao was hard for them to understand.
"Now, do you still have any objections to my decision?" Li Xuan asked again after the telepathic communication.
Zhuang Wenyao fell silent, then shook his head.
Jiang Wentong and the others were curious about what Li Xuan had told Zhuang Wenyao that made him give up his pursuit of the Hall Master position.
Seeing this, Li Xuan looked at Jiang Wentong and the other two and said, "The three Hall Masters have now been chosen, and I have fulfilled the task entrusted to me by the Grand Hall Master. My business here is concluded, and it is time for me to leave."
Li Xuan paused and then continued, "Hmm, let the three Grand Elders stay, and everyone else may leave."
Everyone bowed to Li Xuan and then walked out of the hall. After they left, Jiang Wentong looked at Li Xuan and cupped his fists, "Senior Li, is there anything else you need to instruct us three to do?"
Li Xuan waved his hand, and a barrier instantly enveloped the surroundings. Jiang Wentong and the other two looked surprised. Seeing Li Xuan's actions, it seemed like something big was about to happen?
"Esteemed Grand Elders, aren't you curious why I appointed Li Liqing and not Zhuang Wenyao?" Li Xuan asked with a slight smile.
Jiang Wentong was taken aback and then nodded, "To be frank, we are indeed somewhat puzzled as to why Senior Li chose Li Liqing over Zhuang Wenyao. In terms of talent and strength, Zhuang Wenyao does appear to be more qualified than Li Liqing. However, we believe that Senior Li's decision must have its reasons."
Li Xuan nodded and sighed, "If Zhuang Wenyao's path had been smooth and without obstacles, he would indeed have been capable of being the Hall Master. However, he harbors rebellious intentions, and his desires are uncontrollable in the face of fame and fortune."
"If he were to become the Hall Master, it would bring disaster to the future of the Martial Hall. Moreover, during the final match, he used some forbidden items, which forced me to abandon him."
A hint of remembrance appeared in Feng Wei's eyes, and then, as if understanding something, he looked at Li Xuan and said, "Senior Li, if I remember correctly, after those six Holy Sons were struck by lightning, only Zhuang Wenyao among the four took action to eliminate one Holy Son."
"And during the final match, Zhuang Wenyao did indeed use forbidden techniques."
Jiang Wentong and Wang Qiang fell into thought and then exchanged glances, clearly recalling the events.
Li Xuan waved his hand, "I specifically asked the three Grand Elders to stay, firstly to inform you of this matter. I hope that you three will be vigilant in the future. Secondly, my business here is concluded, and I will not disturb you further."
"We thank you, Senior Li!" Jiang Wentong and the other two bowed to Li Xuan.
"Alright, the three of you, farewell." Li Xuan nodded slightly, then with a thought, his figure disappeared.