At the outset, in Emperor Xingwu’s eyes, Lin Yun managing to break into the top hundred at the prodigy-packed Ten Thousand Flowers Tournament was already decent, after all, his impression of Lin Yun was just a lad who relied on his war pet to dominate the Thousand Sects Battle, back then, Lin Yun couldn’t even beat Soul Refining Sect’s Hao Yuntian one-on-one.
But now, Lin Yun, with his own strength, had completely flipped Emperor Xingwu’s view of him.
After this fight, Emperor Xingwu couldn’t possibly underestimate Lin Yun anymore, he had to admit, this bloke was a proper prodigy!
“Emperor Xingwu, I hear this lad’s only forty? Is that true?” the scruffy, unkempt immortal asked.
The other five immortals, turned their eyes to Emperor Xingwu too.
“Yes, as far as I know, he’s indeed forty,” Emperor Xingwu nodded.
“If that’s the case, this kid’s unreal! Hitting this level at forty, his potential’s leagues above Li Shi and the like!” the scruffy old man said.
“Mm, forty, bloody impressive!” the other immortals nodded in agreement.
With this battle, Lin Yun had fully grabbed the serious attention of these immortals.
Post-fight, no one would dare question Lin Yun’s strength again!
…
Lin Yun stepped off the stage, and the third arena match kicked off.
He returned to the Heavenly Sword Sect’s seats.
Mo Qing’s pretty face beamed with a smile, “You, mate, you’ve proper made a name for yourself this time, I can feel it, loads of female cultivators out there, their eyes on you are practically burning.”
“Don’t tease me, Senior Sister,” Lin Yun gave a dry laugh.
“Lin Yun, your strength’s getting more ridiculous by the day,” the sect leader said, grinning at him.
Lin Yun shining this bright, made the sect leader more certain that Heavenly Sword Sect would soon rise in the Xingwu Empire, becoming a top-tier power!
He felt more and more that betting on Lin Yun back then, was a damn smart move.
“You’re too kind, Sect Leader, got to thank these opponents, their pressure’s what pushes me up,” Lin Yun smiled.
“Sect Leader, Lin Yun’s got more matches, let him rest up first,” Elder Mei Zhang said.
“Right, right, Lin Yun, take this pill, get your strength back quick.”
As he spoke, the sect leader handed Lin Yun a recovery pill.
“Thanks, Sect Leader,” Lin Yun took it, swallowed it, and started recovering.
Mo Qing, Zhi Jin, and the others left him be, letting him focus.
Elsewhere.
The big-name sects, now couldn’t care less about the ongoing match onstage.
Their minds, still replaying Lin Yun’s fight.
His strength, shook them to the core.
It also hardened their resolve, they had to take Lin Yun out, couldn’t let him grow stronger, or he’d lift Heavenly Sword Sect to a terrifying height, crushing their sects flat.
At a corner of the banquet, dark horse Wang Luo, cast his gaze toward Lin Yun.
“Interesting, another dark horse at this Ten Thousand Flowers Tournament, makes it more of a challenge, I love a challenge!” Wang Luo’s lips curved into an intrigued smirk.
…
The third match wrapped up quick.
And with that, the top four were set.
Next round, four to two, then two to one.
Meaning, just two rounds left.
The four gathered upfront to draw lots.
“Didn’t see this coming, the leaderboard’s first, second, and third, all out now, the four left, Lin Yun and Wang Luo, these dark horses, weren’t high on the leaderboard, but they’re dead certs for the title!”
“Wonder if Lin Yun and Wang Luo will face off this round.”
…
The crowd buzzed with eager chatter.
At this stage, the tournament’s endgame, the results had blindsided everyone.
With only four, the draw split fast.
Results came quick.
Lin Yun drew the guy who’d had a bye last round, Wang Luo faced the other.
This round, Lin Yun and Wang Luo, didn’t meet yet.
But barring surprises, they’d clash in the finals!
The arena matches kicked off again, first up, Wang Luo, betting opened.
Most backed Wang Luo, but with his high win odds, the payout was tiny, betting the other guy, though, offered a whopping five-to-one.
Once it started, Wang Luo flexed his dark horse terror again, his opponent held on briefly before folding.
He’d beaten leaderboard-topper Jiang Fengyu, this guy wasn’t even that level, defeat was sealed.
Next, Lin Yun took the stage.
This one, not much pressure for him either.
On the arena.
His opponent, in a purple Taoist robe, stood before Lin Yun.
“Lin Yun, beating Li Shi proves you’re tough, but that doesn’t mean I’m scared, I’ll give you a full fight!” the purple-robed man said.
Making it to the top ten, he was a genius in his own right.
“Alright, bring it,” Lin Yun nodded, sword in hand.
Then, the fight erupted, his opponent’s strength solid, but after Lin Yun unleashed divine sense, Taixu power, demon bone, mystery fusion, and capped it with Flying Snow Sword Array, he took the win.
For the array, Lin Yun only flashed one Saint Spirit-grade weapon as the core, the rest godly-tier.
Even with godly-tier extras, the power was fierce.
As his opponent fell, Lin Yun held back, no harsh moves, they were strangers, just rivals by the match.
“This match, Lin Yun wins! Advances to the finals!” the referee boomed like a bell.
“Conceded,” Lin Yun saluted the purple-robed man.
“Your strength’s real, I’m convinced,” the man said.
Then, he turned and left.
“Into the finals just like that…” Lin Yun gazed at the sea of people ahead, his expression a mix of emotions.
Before the tournament, he’d never dared dream of getting this far, so many prodigies gathered here.
“Next, facing that dark horse Wang Luo, it’ll be tough… probably another brutal fight,” Lin Yun mused.
Win or lose, Lin Yun was content, his training time short compared to these folks, he knew that well.
After an hour’s break to peak condition, the Ten Thousand Flowers Tournament finals, officially began!
