The scene erupted in discussion.
To reach the top seventy on the Heavenly God List typically required Myriad Things realm strength. Currently, over twenty cultivators on the list were at the Third Layer Myriad Things realm, with the thirty-ninth rank already at that level. Those in the Third Layer Myriad Things realm were spread between ranks thirty-nine and sixteen.
The Third Layer Myriad Things realm was a bottleneck, so many immortals lingered there, like Dongguo Ying, who had been stuck at its peak for years. Even within the same realm, strength varied significantly due to factors like physical cultivation, divine sense, weapons, and secret techniques, all of which influenced combat ability.
But no matter how you looked at it, Lin Yun aiming for the thirty-to-forty range seemed utterly fantastical to everyone!
“Lin Yun wants to break into the thirty-to-forty range?” The Xingwu Emperor, seated in the distance, was slightly taken aback.
Though most immortals present thought it impossible, the Xingwu Emperor had a faint hunch that Lin Yun might actually achieve it—a feeling born from losing bets on Lin Yun’s strength multiple times before.
At Lin Yun’s location, the Kunlan Empress spoke coldly. “Good that you remember. Today, I’ll see how you back up your boasts. If you fail, you said I could make any demand.”
With that, she turned to leave with her group, heading to their seats.
“Your Majesty, one moment,” Lin Yun called out.
“What? Backing out?” The Kunlan Empress turned to him.
“Not at all. It’s just that you’ve openly brought up our wager, clearly intending to put me on the spot, leaving me no face or leeway,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Face is earned. When you made that bet with me, you should’ve considered the consequences of boasting,” the Kunlan Empress replied impassively.
“I understand,” Lin Yun nodded.
“Then why stop me? What else do you have to say?” she asked, eyeing him.
“I was thinking our previous wager’s goal was too low, too unchallenging. How about raising it a bit, say, to reaching the top twenty?” Lin Yun said with a smile.
At this, even the Kunlan Empress froze.
“What did you say?” she asked, as if she’d misheard.
“Your Majesty, I said let’s change the goal to breaking into the top twenty,” Lin Yun repeated casually.
The crowd erupted in shock.
“He’s aiming for the top twenty? Has he lost his mind?”
“How long has he been at the Heavenly God Palace? A junior like him thinks he can storm into the top twenty? What a joke!”
Sharp, skeptical voices filled the air.
Lin Yun’s earlier claim of aiming for the thirty-to-forty range had already seemed outrageous. Now he was raising the stakes?
If he hadn’t repeated it, people might’ve thought they’d misheard.
Even Lin Yun’s friends and family were stunned by his goal. Though they weren’t fully aware of the strength dynamics within the Heavenly God Palace, they could imagine how difficult it was to reach the top twenty among immortals.
At Lin Yun’s location, the Kunlan Empress stared at him, still incredulous. “Lin Yun, you’re not joking, are you?”
“Your Majesty, do I look like I’m joking?” Lin Yun maintained his smile.
“Fine. Since you dare make such a bold claim in front of all these immortals, I’ll see how you follow through.”
With that, the Kunlan Empress turned and left.
To her, Lin Yun reaching the top twenty was impossible. She couldn’t fathom why he’d say such a thing. After his entrance trial, she’d thought him a talent with potential. Now, she was increasingly disappointed.
The crowd’s criticism didn’t relent after her departure.
At the Shadow Hall’s area, the Shadow Hall Master exclaimed, “Mo Qing, what’s your partner Lin Yun up to, boasting about reaching the top twenty?”
“If he dares say it, I believe he’s confident,” Mo Qing said earnestly.
Few knew Lin Yun had broken through to the Myriad Things realm, but Mo Qing was one of them. Even so, his goal of reaching the top twenty surprised her. Having known him so long, she trusted he wouldn’t say it without certainty.
The masked Shadow Hall Master spoke slowly. “He’s only been at the Heavenly God Palace a short time. No matter how you look at it, reaching the top twenty is unrealistic.”
At the Xingwu Emperor’s area, he scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Arrogant fool, setting such a high goal. Let’s see how he backs up his big talk!”
He’d been half-convinced when Lin Yun aimed for the thirty-to-forty range, but the top twenty? To him, it was impossible.
“He’s probably just caught up in the heat of the moment, spouting nonsense in front of the Kunlan Empress,” an immortal from the Xingwu Empire remarked.
Even Mahayana realm powerhouses like the Xiaoyao Building Master, Taixu Tavern Master, Taigu Sect Master, and Tianqian Emperor were stunned.
“What’s this guy up to, aiming for the top twenty and betting with the Kunlan Empress?” the Taigu Sect Master wondered aloud.
“Could he actually be confident?” the Taixu Tavern Master questioned.
“Impossible! How long has he been cultivating? No matter how prodigious, he needs time to grow. Major realm bottlenecks take ages to overcome. These are hard realities!” the Tianqian Emperor said firmly.
The other Mahayana realm powerhouses nodded in agreement.
Not just them—other immortals shared the same thoughts and discussions.
At Lin Yun’s location, Dongguo Ying was shocked. “Lin Yun, you’re really aiming for the top twenty?”
Not only Dongguo Ying but other Fire Cloud Empire immortals were equally stunned, puzzled, and doubtful.
“Of course,” Lin Yun said with a smile, nodding.
