That’s exactly what he meant.
“You can take it that way. Also, when I heard you boldly claim you’d aim for the top twenty on the Heavenly Deity List, do you know how laughable I found it?” Lu Sheng sneered.
Smiling, Lu Sheng continued, “Your fearless, failure-defying spirit is something worth learning from. I, Lu Sheng, admire it!”
As he spoke, he gave Lin Yun a thumbs-up.
But this gesture was hardly praise; it was clearly a backhanded mockery.
Lin Yun, however, showed no anger, maintaining his smile.
“Senior Lu Sheng, you’ve misunderstood. I’m only fighting you to… warm up a bit, to prepare for the battles ahead,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
His words triggered a chorus of boos from the crowd.
“This Lin Yun is so arrogant. Lu Sheng is ranked thirty-eighth on the Heavenly Deity List, and he says fighting him is just a warm-up?”
…
To Lu Sheng, these words were particularly grating.
This was a mockery of him!
“Lin Yun, you’re awfully cocky!” Lu Sheng’s face darkened.
“Senior Lu Sheng, there’s a difference between arrogance and confidence. I’m confident. Besides, even if you think I’m arrogant, surely you’re not the only one allowed to be?” Lin Yun replied.
“My arrogance is backed by strength! And you?” Lu Sheng said coldly.
“The same,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Hmph, ignorant of your own limits. Let’s see how I make you eat dirt. When you’re defeated, I’ll see what you have left to say.”
With that, Lu Sheng flipped his hand, revealing a pipa.
This pipa was his weapon, which Lin Yun had already seen in action during his earlier fights.
Boom!
As Lu Sheng brandished the pipa, the aura of a third-level Myriad Realms immortal was unmistakable.
Two thousand years ago, during his last public fight, Lu Sheng was at the second level of Myriad Realms. Now, for this ranking battle, he had reached the third level.
This breakthrough was his foundation for claiming the thirty-eighth rank on the Heavenly Deity List.
Lin Yun shook his head, “Just a newly advanced third-level Myriad Realms. What’s there to be arrogant about?”
In the Heavenly Deity Palace, there were over twenty immortals at the third level of Myriad Realms, occupying ranks sixteen to twenty-nine on the Heavenly Deity List.
Within this realm, strength varied greatly, as it was a bottleneck stage. The weakest and strongest at this level were worlds apart.
Lu Sheng, having only recently reached the third level, was clearly among the weaker ones in this group.
“Big talk. A third-level Myriad Realms is more than enough to crush a rookie like you!”
With that, Lu Sheng channelled his inner energy, strumming the pipa and swinging it forcefully.
Buzz!
A powerful shockwave erupted from the pipa, distorting the void as it surged towards Lin Yun.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Lu Sheng rapidly strummed again, sending three more shockwaves, infused with divine consciousness, hurtling forward.
“Interesting!”
Lin Yun swiftly drew his treasured sword, his inner energy surging, revealing his own third-level Myriad Realms aura.
Heavenly Origin Sword Technique, Great Annihilation!
The sword gleamed, transforming into a massive sword shadow that smashed towards the pipa’s shockwaves, fully imbued with divine consciousness and physical strength.
“What? Third-level Myriad Realms!”
“This guy is at the third level?!”
When the crowd sensed Lin Yun’s realm, the arena erupted in astonishment.
“How long has this guy been an immortal? How could he reach the third level of Myriad Realms so quickly?”
“Even if his master supplied him with Haoyue Crystals, breaking through from the Eternal Realm to the Myriad Realms is no easy feat!”
…
The immortals present had struggled immensely to reach the Myriad Realms, spending vast amounts of time.
“This guy’s already at the third level of Myriad Realms? No wonder he dared to challenge Lu Sheng,” Empress Kunlan’s beautiful eyes flashed with shock.
The Xingwu Emperor, Heavenly Qian Emperor, Xiaoyao Tower Lord, Taigu Sect Master, and Shadow Hall Master were equally stunned.
Lin Yun’s third-level Myriad Realms status clearly shocked everyone.
After all, it was well-known that Lin Yun hadn’t been an immortal for long.
Deputy Palace Master Yao wasn’t surprised. When Lin Yun claimed the reward for slaying two seventh-realm celestial beasts, he was already at the second level of Myriad Realms. Yao had given him twenty thousand Haoyue Crystals, which, in his view, were enough to propel Lin Yun to the third level.
On the arena.
Boom!
Lin Yun’s sword strike, with thunderous force, shattered the four shockwaves Lu Sheng had unleashed.
“What!?” Lu Sheng’s face changed drastically.
Lin Yun’s third-level Myriad Realms status shocked him, stirring a storm in his heart.
“Lu Sheng, take this!”
Buzz!
With a sharp shout, Lin Yun’s sword, carrying the momentum of a torrential river and sweeping army, surged towards Lu Sheng.
The fight was on, and Lu Sheng had no choice but to respond!
“You won’t beat me that easily!”
“Melody of Mountains and Rivers!”
Lu Sheng unleashed his full power, his fingers frantically strumming the pipa, releasing countless golden beams.
The beams converged, forming a ferocious tiger that charged forward with lightning speed!
“Too weak!”
Lin Yun shook his head, his attack instantly striking the golden tiger.
Bang!
Upon contact, the golden tiger exploded.
Under Lin Yun’s onslaught, Lu Sheng’s attack seemed utterly fragile.
After shattering the strike, Lin Yun’s attack reached Lu Sheng in an instant.
Lu Sheng’s eyes widened as he flipped the pipa to use it as a shield.
Boom!
The sword, carrying terrifying power, struck the pipa, sending Lu Sheng flying uncontrollably, crashing hundreds of metres away at the edge of the arena.
At that moment, the arena fell quieter.
“How could this be… how…”
Lu Sheng, sprawled on the ground, trembled, his hands nearly numb from the terrifying force of Lin Yun’s strike.
His pale face showed shock, his heart roiling with turmoil.
Lin Yun’s attack was too fierce; he couldn’t withstand it at all!
“Senior Lu Sheng, it’s clear now who’s stronger. I told you, there’s a difference between arrogance and confidence,” Lin Yun said lightly.
