At the arena ahead.
“I… I actually lost to you…” Cao Jun’s hands trembled slightly, his face pale.
Just before their final clash, he distinctly felt that Lin Yun’s divine consciousness attack far surpassed his own!
In other words, Lin Yun’s physical realm completely overwhelmed him, and his swordsmanship and divine consciousness were also superior.
His only advantage was being two minor realms ahead, but with Lin Yun’s dominance in other areas, this significant edge was still overcome, especially by his physical realm.
He had still been defeated by Lin Yun.
What shocked Cao Jun most wasn’t that Lin Yun could defeat him.
It was that Lin Yun, barely a hundred years old, had achieved such extraordinary mastery in physical realm, swordsmanship, and divine consciousness!
That was what left him in awe…
“Senior Cao Jun, thank you for the match.” Lin Yun, standing on the arena, clasped his fists towards Cao Jun.
Lin Yun knew clearly that today’s victory was tied to his twenty years afflicted by the soul-severing poison.
Without those twenty years, his physical realm would at best be at the Myriad Forms Body, on par with Cao Jun’s.
His swordsmanship and divine consciousness had advanced dramatically during those twenty years!
Without that ordeal, Lin Yun wouldn’t have had the confidence or qualification to challenge Cao Jun, let alone defeat him!
Adversity could destroy a person, but surviving it could forge one, such was often the way of life.
The experience with the soul-severing poison was truly invaluable to Lin Yun!
Even his prolonged stay in the Beast Mountain Range, another trial, had granted him immense growth!
“Lin Yun, I must admit, you… you are a prodigy! I’m thoroughly convinced of my defeat…” Cao Jun, head lowered, spoke with a trembling voice, finally uttering these words.
Cao Jun himself was no ordinary prodigy, having stood out among peers to step into eternity.
Until today, he had thought himself exceptional.
But now, he truly understood the vast gap between himself and a true prodigy.
Undoubtedly, this battle had redefined what it meant to be a ‘prodigy’ through Lin Yun’s performance!
At this moment, even the communication bracelets fell quieter.
“Everyone at the scene, why so silent? Is there a result?”
“How’s the fight going?”
Immortals not present began inquiring via their communication bracelets.
“Lin Yun won,” an immortal at the scene replied to the group.
“What? Lin Yun, a first-level eternal who just stepped into eternity, defeated Cao Jun? You’re not joking, right?”
“It’s absolutely true, this Lin Yun is too incredible!”
“Good heavens, how did he do it? That’s insane! How many years has this guy even cultivated?”
…
As news of Lin Yun’s victory spread openly through the communication bracelets, the channels exploded.
Immortals not present were utterly shocked and astounded.
For they all understood what it meant for Lin Yun, under a hundred, to achieve such strength!
Undoubtedly, this match would make Lin Yun famous in the Heavenly God Palace! It cemented his reputation and made everyone fully aware of his prodigious talent!
This battle might even be recorded in the Heavenly God Palace’s annals!
At the arena.
Emperor Huoyun rose to his feet.
“Haha, Xingwu, my disciple has proven superior after all, still dare to say my ability to train disciples is inferior to yours? What have you to say now? My disciple hasn’t even cultivated for a hundred years!” Emperor Huoyun let out a hearty laugh.
Lin Yun’s victory had undoubtedly earned Emperor Huoyun immense pride!
Emperor Xingwu, now seated again, had a grim expression, momentarily speechless.
“Xingwu, a bet’s a bet, one thousand Haoyue Crystals, hand them over,” Emperor Huoyun said with a smile.
Per their prior agreement, if Lin Yun won, the Haoyue Crystals Huoyun had lost would be nullified, and Emperor Xingwu would owe another thousand.
Emperor Xingwu’s eyes twitched, clearly reluctant.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford the thousand Haoyue Crystals, but they were a vital resource, and losing any was a heavy blow!
“Here!”
Emperor Xingwu produced a thousand Haoyue Crystals and tossed them to Emperor Huoyun.
With the bet made before so many immortals, he couldn’t back out.
Emperor Huoyun caught the crystals and chuckled, “Xingwu, thanks for the Haoyue Crystals.”
The master of Xiaoyao Tower, nearby, teased, “Xingwu, you’ve shot yourself in the foot, initially Lin Yun only said if he won, Huoyun’s lost thousand Haoyue Crystals would be voided, but you insisted if Lin Yun won, you’d give another thousand.”
Emperor Xingwu’s face twitched, the words hitting a sore spot.
How could he have believed Lin Yun could defeat a third-level eternal like Cao Jun, prompting such a bold claim?
The master of Xiaoyao Tower continued with a smile, “Xingwu, losing a thousand Haoyue Crystals is nothing, missing out on a prodigy like Lin Yun, that’s the real loss.”
Emperor Xingwu’s face reddened, and he shot to his feet.
“Master, have you said enough!”
Emperor Xingwu was already suffering, and the master kept rubbing salt in his wounds.
He was pained, how could Lin Yun be so prodigious!
The more dazzling Lin Yun’s performance, the more it stung, as he was the one who let Lin Yun slip away.
“Haha, alright, alright, I’ll stop, or you might really lose your temper,” the master of Xiaoyao Tower waved dismissively, laughing.
At this moment, Cao Jun returned to Emperor Xingwu.
“Master, your disciple… was inadequate,” Cao Jun said, his face pale.
“Hmph, disgraceful! Go back and train properly!” Emperor Xingwu scolded coldly.
With that, he swept his sleeve and departed.
He didn’t want to linger a moment longer.
Cao Jun felt aggrieved, having defeated Bing Yi today, he should’ve earned praise and rewards from Emperor Xingwu, yet it had come to this.
It wasn’t his incompetence, but Lin Yun’s overwhelming strength!
The watching immortals, amid sighs and murmurs, began to disperse.
Lin Yun had returned to Emperor Huoyun’s side.
“Master, your disciple has not failed you,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“My disciple, your performance today stunned even me, you’re completely unfathomable now,” Emperor Xingwu sighed with a smile.
With a wave of his hand, Emperor Huoyun continued, “Lin Yun, these thousand Haoyue Crystals won, plus another thousand from me, are yours, your spoils of today’s battle.” He handed two thousand Haoyue Crystals to Lin Yun.
