Lin Yun’s aura flared—he braced for the fight.
“Hm? Third-rank Mahayana?” The old man sensed it, stunned.
“Third-rank Mahayana at stage 35? No mistake?” He gaped—unheard of.
Third-rank Mahayana hitting the 20s was already top-tier.
“Senior, no mistake—third-rank Mahayana, me,” Lin Yun grinned.
“Third-rank Mahayana here—if I’m right, you’ve smashed a record, I’ve just seen history!” The old man’s look shifted—admiration crept in.
Then he pivoted, “But passing my stage? Tough—near impossible, better quit now, save a beating.”
He added, “A second-turn Tribulation realm got here before, took my five moves—hurt bad, passed but knackered, skipped 36 straight off, you’re third-rank Mahayana, your defense can’t match.”
“Senior, stage’s live—quit? Gotta try,” Lin Yun smiled.
“Stubborn git—I won’t ease up ‘cos you’re third-rank Mahayana, rules set the force, five moves, each meaner—can’t hack it, tap out!” the old man said.
His palm opened—thick inner force flared, glowing brilliant.
“Heads-up noted, Senior—I won’t overreach,” Lin Yun grinned.
“Ape Demon Palm, First Form!”
*Boom!*
A fierce palm struck—force shaped a giant shadow, crashing down.
Fourth-turn Tribulation realm, but just a taste of his power.
“Here goes!”
Lin Yun cranked his force—no fear, just buzz!
The shadow hit head-on.
Lin Yun didn’t budge—tanking it raw!
“Hm? No tricks?” The old man blinked.
Challengers usually threw skills to block.
Judges—Hall Master He too—gawked.
Raw tanking? Cocky much?
*Boom!*
It slammed his chest—force burst.
No stagger, no collapse—Lin Yun stood firm!
Monks’ bodies were frail—rare to tank bare.
Lin Yun’s eleventh-layer Taixu Body Technique? Weapon-tough.
This? A tickle!
“Senior, needs more kick,” Lin Yun grinned, unfazed.
“Blimey, your defense’s solid!” Shock lit the old man’s eyes.
“Just a starter!”
“Ape Demon Palm, Second Form!”
*Rip!*
Bigger juice gathered—blasting out, tearing air, engulfing Lin Yun!
Clear jump from the first.
Lin Yun expected it—five moves, each nastier.
*Boom!*
It smashed him again.
Raw tank again.
*Thud thud!*
Two steps back—still good.
“Second’s got bite,” he mused.
Judges’ stand.
“He tanked that too? That’s no soft hit!” Envoys and Hall Master He gaped.
Cocky, they’d thought!
“Brilliant!” Liang Yuan cheered—Lin Yun unscathed.
“His body technique’s ace!” Hall Master He nailed it.
On the arena.
The old man, seeing Lin Yun shrug it, flashed deep shock.
Not a weak hit—even second-turn Tribulation realm wouldn’t tank it raw!
“Kid, your body technique’s unreal!” His gaze flipped.
“Senior, too kind—decent at it,” Lin Yun smiled humbly.
“Third—you won’t tank this, brace!”
“Ape Demon Palm, Third Form!”
Light flared—blasting sharp!
A giant palm phantom loomed overhead!
More juice poured in—bigger, brighter!
“Proper!” Lin Yun eyed it, impressed.
“Crush!”
The old man barked—it slammed down!
*Boom!*
It crushed Lin Yun—feet sank, ground cracked!
*Cough cough!* Face paled a bit.
Still—he took it!
“Still tanking raw?”
The old man’s eye twitched—freak!
How jacked was this kid’s body technique?
“Senior, two left—hit me,” Lin Yun faced him.
Each spike hit hard—two to go, no sweat!
“Fourth’s a beast!”
“Here, kid—catch!”
“Ape Demon Palm, Fourth Form!”
He shot forward—light streaking—palm striking real!
*Boom!*
Force stormed—wild tempest!
Big jump—fourth-turn edge showing.
Second-rank Mahayana might bleed!
“No more tanking!”
Lin Yun felt the terror—couldn’t play dumb.
Before, raw—no force.
This? Too much!
“Heaven-Shaking Hand, Second Turn!”
*Unleash!*
It roared out.
His palm blackened—terrifying vibes surged.
He struck—clashing head-on!
*Boom!*
Palms met—mountain-shattering force erupted!
Shockwaves blasted out—visible, wild!
The arena quaked!
*Thud thud thud!*
The old man staggered back, disbelief etched—each step thundered!
Lin Yun—three steps back!
Judges’ stand.
“What!?”
Envoys and Hall Master He’s eyes popped—nearly fell out!
They’d seen Lin Yun move—thought he’d cracked, couldn’t tank.
He struck—and pushed the old man back?
On the arena.
Force faded—silence fell.
The old man steadied after stumbling.
His heart churned.
“Senior?”
Lin Yun called—he’d zoned out.
He snapped up, face odd—bit awkward…
“I’ve guarded this stage a century—you’re the first to push me back,” he said, heavy.
Never happened!
“Senior, you stuck to this stage’s power—not your full fourth-turn Tribulation realm, if you went all-out, I’d be toast,” Lin Yun said humbly.
The old man chuckled, “Smooth talker, eh?”
Lin Yun’s words saved his face.
Getting shoved back? Embarrassing—Lin Yun softened it.
“Senior, one left—go,” Lin Yun said.
“This last one’s leagues past the fourth—second-rank Mahayana’d bleed, watch it!”
He raised his palm—force condensed wild!
It morphed—a demon ape, unbeatable aura spreading!
“Take it!”
He roared—the ape howled, ripping space, charging Lin Yun!
Second-turn Tribulation realm would quake!
“Again!”
“Heaven-Shaking Hand, Second Form!”
Lin Yun felt the terror—force surged, palm struck—raw power gathered!
*Boom!*
Deafening clash!
A storm hit—Lin Yun flew back, feet gouging a long white scar—tens of meters!
*Cough cough!*
Steadying, he hacked—insides churned, rough.
“Last one’s brutal,” he sighed.
His weapon-grade body held—no biggie!
Normal third-rank Mahayana? Obliterated.
He looked up, “Senior, I’ve passed, yeah?”
“Five moves taken—you’re through, kid, you’re ace,” the old man stared, eyes glinting.
Only two hit this stage today—the second-turn Tribulation realm spat blood post-fifth, tapped out.
Lin Yun? Fine.
“Senior, too kind—if this was a fight, I’d lose,” Lin Yun smiled humbly.
He knew—fourth-turn was beyond him, even this fifth wasn’t peak.
Full blast? He’d fold.
“This stage ain’t about winning—taking five’s rare, you’re boundless!” the old man sighed.
He didn’t know—prophetic words…
He turned, left.
Thirty-fifth stage—cleared!
Tied for first—one more for the crown.
Judges’ stand.
“Thirty-fifth—done! Brilliant!” Liang Yuan whooped.
Pre-35, he’d been shaky—Lin Yun’s defense stunned him again.
“More you watch, more he shocks,” they mused.
His body technique shone—staggering!
On the arena.
Lin Yun caught his breath—gate rose.
A ragged grey-robed prisoner shuffled out—wild hair, rough shape.
He hit the arena, brushed his locks—red-glowing, sinister eyes locked on Lin Yun.
Seeing him, his eyes lit—like spotting prey!
“Two hundred years—two bloody centuries since I last swung! No freedom for me, but dragging an empire talent down today? Jackpot, ha!” He cackled, unhinged.
“Heavy malice! Thick killing aura!”
Lin Yun stared—bloodlight seemed to halo him.
Only a mountain of sins bred that!
Danger prickled off him.
The prisoner eyed Lin Yun, smacking his lips, “Fresh meat, eh—green kid, wet behind the ears, uncle’s gonna school you—teach you cruelty, fear, heh!”
His eerie laugh chilled bones.
Here, he was a devil incarnate!
