“Admit defeat? How could I, a prince, ever admit defeat? For us imperial clansmen, there is no such thing as surrender!” Ji Yuan gritted his teeth, his tone still defiant, though it was clear he was out of options.
He was completely on the back foot, retreating step by step.
This was an undeniable fact!
“Good heavens, it looks like Prince Ji Yuan is going to lose!”
“I hope Brother Ji Yuan still has a way to turn this around!”
…
The spectators below the arena, especially the imperial clansmen, watched the stage intently.
At that moment, the voice of the Martial Tournament Hall Master echoed in Lin Yun’s mind again.
“Lin Yun, that’s enough. End it here. Listen to me, don’t continue this fight.”
Lin Yun didn’t respond to the Hall Master’s transmission. His terrifying attacks continued to envelop Prince Ji Yuan.
Boom!
After another fearsome clash, Ji Yuan was forced back again. The shockwave from the collision made the arena’s protective barrier tremble incessantly!
“Prince Ji Yuan, according to your pre-match sparring rules, the fight ends when one side admits defeat or is knocked off the arena. Since you won’t surrender, I’ll have to knock you off!”
As Lin Yun spoke, his attacks surged forward again.
Ji Yuan, already retreating, was now dangerously close to the arena’s edge. A few more of Lin Yun’s ferocious strikes, and his defeat would be certain.
When Lin Yun’s sword descended once more towards Prince Ji Yuan, the prince’s aura suddenly surged dramatically.
“Defeat me? Keep dreaming!!!”
Boom!
The attack Ji Yuan unleashed skyrocketed in power!
Indeed, he had stopped suppressing his cultivation, unleashing the full might of the Ninth Revolution Tribulation Realm!
The moment he erupted, their attacks collided head-on!
Dong!
With an earth-shattering thud, the entire arena was engulfed in blinding light. A terrifying shockwave raged like a storm.
Crack, crack, crack!
Under this immense impact, the arena’s protective barrier trembled violently before fracturing!
The barrier was forcibly shattered!
The arena’s surface was marred with countless massive cracks.
“This is bad!”
The spectators below, seeing the barrier break, panicked and retreated, especially the younger imperial members whose cultivation wasn’t high enough. Such a terrifying shockwave posed a significant threat to them!
Fortunately, most of the shockwave’s power had been absorbed by the barrier, and the remaining energy was no longer dangerous.
As the aftermath spread, a figure was blasted off the arena, crashing heavily onto the ground below with a ‘bang’, shattering the sturdy stone floor into a web of cracks.
The cracks extended in all directions for thousands of metres!
That figure was Lin Yun.
Lin Yun’s face was slightly pale, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.
Thanks to his Pure Yang Body and the protection of his Frost Heart, he sustained no serious injuries.
As the energy dissipated, the world returned to silence.
Prince Ji Yuan stood on the ruined arena.
The crowd looked at Ji Yuan, then at Lin Yun.
“Prince Ji Yuan won!”
“Ji Yuan! Ji Yuan!”
The younger imperial clansmen cheered for Ji Yuan.
They knew Ji Yuan had broken the rules, but that didn’t matter.
“Lin Yun still lost in the end, but this guy’s strength is terrifying. If Prince Ji Yuan had stayed at the Sixth Revolution Tribulation Realm, he would’ve lost for sure!”
“Indeed, with Lin Yun’s strength, even ordinary Eighth or Ninth Revolution Tribulation Realm cultivators might not be his match.”
“No wonder he’s His Majesty’s disciple. Truly impressive, and he’s so much younger than Prince Ji Yuan.”
Some ministers watching from below whispered among themselves.
Though Lin Yun lost, his terrifying display of strength still shocked many.
Lin Yun, using his sword to support himself, slowly stood up, looking at Ji Yuan ahead.
“Prince Ji Yuan, we agreed to suppress our cultivation to the Sixth Revolution Tribulation Realm. Winning like this hardly seems honourable, does it? Don’t you feel ashamed hearing these cheers?” Lin Yun sneered.
If Ji Yuan had continued suppressing his cultivation, he would’ve been the one to lose.
Ji Yuan’s facial muscles twitched, his expression unnatural.
He knew he’d violated the rules he himself had set, making his victory less than honourable.
But as a prince, he couldn’t allow himself to lose to Lin Yun. That was absolutely unacceptable!
His pride was immense, and he always considered himself extraordinary. He couldn’t bear to fall at Lin Yun’s feet.
Ji Yuan then said, “Rules are set, but in a spar, it’s about using all your abilities. I can unleash my Ninth Revolution cultivation—that’s my strength. Suppressing my cultivation initially was to give you face. Combat is cruel, and to achieve victory, any means are justified. We’re all adults; you understand this, don’t you?”
Lin Yun suddenly laughed, “You’re right. Combat is cruel, and any means are justified to achieve the goal. I, Lin Yun, accept my defeat today. I don’t need you to suppress your cultivation to let me win.”
Lin Yun wasn’t naive or idealistic. He understood that any means could be used to achieve a goal.
Though Ji Yuan broke the rules he’d set, Lin Yun knew that in a real fight, he would indeed lose to him.
Without suppression, he truly wasn’t Ji Yuan’s match.
Lin Yun didn’t care for a victory handed to him.
Then, Lin Yun’s tone shifted, “However, the gap in our cultivation years is significant. I lost because my cultivation isn’t high enough. One day, I’ll surpass you, and I believe it won’t take long.”
“Haha, I’ll be waiting!” Ji Yuan laughed.
With that, Ji Yuan leapt off the arena and headed towards the imperial palace.
“Prince Ji Yuan!”
Many imperial clansmen hurriedly followed, showering him with praise.
Watching Ji Yuan’s departing figure, Lin Yun finally understood why Ji Yuan was so arrogant, why he’d rather break his own rules than lose.
He was propped up too high by those around him and revelled in their adulation!
The other spectating ministers and officials dispersed, sighing and exclaiming.
Only Lin Yun and the Martial Tournament Hall Master remained.
“Lin Yun, you’re still too young and impulsive,” the Hall Master sighed.
“If I’m not bold, I’m not a young man,” Lin Yun said, gazing into the distance.
Even though Lin Yun was usually humble, even to strangers, he had his own pride and principles!
Lin Yun could’ve let Ji Yuan win, but for Ji Yuan to mock him afterwards? Sorry, Lin Yun wouldn’t stand for it!
Everyone’s human—why should he indulge him?
If Lin Yun abandoned his last shred of pride, if he’d become a sycophant today because of Ji Yuan’s status, he’d never achieve anything in the future.
“After this, you and Prince Ji Yuan will likely never be on good terms. He’s of the imperial bloodline, His Majesty’s kin, with exceptional talent. He might even become the crown prince someday. If you can’t befriend him, it could affect your future,” the Hall Master sighed.
Lin Yun gazed at the sky, “Pinning my hopes on others is foolish. I rely on no one but myself. If he can’t befriend me, that’s his loss!”
