“He’ll lose big today, I’ve told Cao Zheng to kill him on the stage if he can!” Clan Leader Mo chuckled.
“Father, even if he doesn’t die up there, he’s toast, once he loses the crown, we can deal with him however—gah!” Mo Yangrong grinned darkly.
Unlike their glee, Clan Leader Zhu and Zhu Xu tensed up hearing Lin Yun faced Cao Zheng.
“How’d they clash so soon!” Zhu Xu stared ahead.
“It’s a surprise, but if Lin Yun wants the crown, he’d face Cao Zheng eventually—just sooner now,” Clan Leader Zhu said.
“Hope Brother Lin Yun pulls it off, this’ll be a tough scrap,” Zhu Xu fretted.
Without Cao Zheng, they’d bet on Lin Yun, but his entry left them unsure.
Win or lose, they saw a brutal fight coming!
The crowd’s uproar and chatter only grew—hype was sky-high.
In the throng.
Wei Qi gazed forward, muttering, “Wonder if he can take Cao Zheng, looks dicey.”
Having fought Lin Yun, he knew some tricks, but beating Cao Zheng? Still a stretch!
Up front.
“So it’s them two—looks like this could decide today’s prefecture champ!” the envoy said.
“Who’s your pick, Envoy?” the Prefecture Lord smiled.
“Hard to call it early, neither’s shown their real chops yet,” the envoy eyed the stage.
Then he added, “But Cao Zheng’s a legit first-turn Tribulation realm, he’s got the edge!”
“Envoy, not just an edge—Cao Zheng’s got it in the bag, Lin Yun’s got no shot!” Yi Cheng piped up.
“We’ll see soon enough, let the facts talk,” the envoy watched on.
On the stage.
Lin Yun and Cao Zheng faced off.
All eyes locked on—mega spotlight!
Lin Yun sized up Cao Zheng—scruffy beard, green robe, Tribulation realm vibe screaming loud.
“Lin Yun, first proper meet-up, but these past days, your name’s been buzzing in my ears till they’re calloused,” Cao Zheng said.
“Same here, heard most reckon you’ve got this locked,” Lin Yun smirked.
“No question, my aim’s the national crown, you’re just a stepping stone—not even a real foe, beating Wei Qi? Doesn’t faze me!” Cao Zheng scoffed, barely glancing at him.
Lin Yun couldn’t help but laugh.
“Pretty sure of yourself, eh? Let’s go then—you’ll soon see agreeing to Mo’s deal for this exam was a fatal slip!” Lin Yun’s lips curled.
“Make me lose bad? You cocky little runt, clueless how high the sky is—today, I, Cao Zheng, will school you proper!”
Cao Zheng’s words dropped, his first-turn Tribulation realm aura bursting out, flooding the stage.
He yanked a massive warblade from his back, gripping it tight.
The blade swung up, light flashing, raw power piling on fast!
Full Fire Mystery fused into it.
His divine second-rank soul-sense unleashed, blending in, jacking the blade’s might higher.
Older than Lin Yun by centuries—over 400 years training—his soul-sense was solid.
“Sky-Tyrant Slash!”
“Runt, one move’s all I need!”
The blade tore down with ruinous force, like a mountain crushing Lin Yun.
That power? A normal third-rank Mahayana realm cultivator would be mush!
“Cao Zheng’s not holding back—full blast right off, wants to end Lin Yun in one!”
“That strength—Lin Yun’s in trouble!”
Every eye glued to the stage.
“That it? Bog-standard first-turn Tribulation realm stuff.”
Lin Yun’s sword quivered, insane power pooling on the blade.
Eleventh-layer Taixu Power—unleashed!
Demon bone—unleashed!
Sword light flared, hauling terrifying force, streaking out!
As it launched, a soul-sense ripple surged on the blade.
Super-divine first-rank soul-sense spiked its power even more!
*Boom!*
Weapons clashed, shockwaves ripping loose.
As Lin Yun’s sword force flooded out, Cao Zheng’s grin froze solid!
The surge shoved him back hard, each step thumping the stage.
Before he steadied, Lin Yun’s sword came again, sharper, relentless!
Facing the barrage, Cao Zheng swung his warblade to block, but kept reeling back!
*Clang clang clang!*
Cao Zheng staggered.
So what if he was first-turn Tribulation realm?
Before Lin Yun hit Fire Cloud Empire, he couldn’t touch that level.
But last time, training with the Bai Clan in the ravine, he’d offed a first-turn Tribulation realm cultivator.
Tough win back then.
Now? His soul-sense had skyrocketed!
Plus, Taixu Body Refining and Taixu Power, both at eleventh-layer.
He hadn’t even tapped his wristguard or Heaven-Shaking Hand—and he was still thrashing this Tribulation realm guy!
“Blimey, Lin Yun’s totally on top? This guy’s unreal!”
The crowd went nuts.
Nobody saw this coming.
Up front.
“Super-divine first-rank soul-sense?!” The envoy gawked at Lin Yun, eyes blazing with shock.
He grabbed Lin Yun’s entry form, saw his age—shock deepened!
So young, with soul-sense that wild?
