“Old Li, can he really challenge Xuan Ziheng?” Elder Jun turned to Elder Li.
Clearly, Elder Jun found it hard to believe.
“I wouldn’t dare to say for sure, but I admire his courage to challenge Xuan Ziheng. Let’s just watch and see if this guy can surprise me this time,” Elder Li said, visibly intrigued.
On the other side.
“Lin Yun’s going for it! Lin Yun’s finally challenging Xuan Ziheng!” Mu Ji cheered excitedly as she saw Lin Yun rush forward.
“Lin Yun’s really doing it, but Xuan Ziheng is formidable. I hope Lin Yun can pull it off,” Mo Bai said, his gaze fixed ahead.
Old Hei also seemed nervous.
They had no clear idea of Lin Yun’s current strength.
So, they couldn’t predict how this battle would unfold.
Inside the arena.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Lin Yun dashed to the stone platform where Xuan Ziheng stood.
“Where did this nobody come from, daring to challenge me?” Xuan Ziheng glanced at Lin Yun, clearly unfamiliar with him.
As a standout in the Heavenly Saint Realm, Xuan Ziheng knew most of the strong contenders in the Heavenly Fire Temple’s Saint Realm.
But Lin Yun was a stranger to him.
From the nearby stone platform, Transcendent Realm cultivator Bi Chaoqun laughed, “Looks like your deterrence isn’t enough, Xuan Ziheng. Look at me, standing here with no one daring to challenge me. That’s deterrence!”
Xuan Ziheng’s face darkened at these words.
In his view, Lin Yun’s challenge was indeed a direct affront to his authority.
Lin Yun turned to Bi Chaoqun, “Stop stirring trouble. I’m not challenging you, so why all the chatter?”
Bi Chaoqun was stunned, clearly not expecting Lin Yun to speak to him like that.
“You’re lecturing me now? Interesting. Even if I’m stirring trouble, what can you do? You think you’re worthy to speak to me like this?” Bi Chaoqun sneered.
Xuan Ziheng, growing impatient, urged, “Kid, if you’re here to challenge me, get on the platform now!”
Lin Yun drew his sword and leapt onto the platform in one swift move.
Xuan Ziheng stared at Lin Yun, smirking coldly, “Good. Since you dare challenge my authority, I’ll make you pay!”
Xuan Ziheng had decided that, even if he didn’t kill Lin Yun, he would severely injure him.
This would both punish Lin Yun and deter other Heavenly Saint Realm cultivators from eyeing the last platform spot.
“Bloodthirsty Sword Scripture!”
As Xuan Ziheng spoke, he raised his sword, its blade surging with blood-red light, striking at Lin Yun with ferocious power.
“Xuan Ziheng’s making his move!”
“How many moves can that guy withstand?”
All eyes in the arena were on Lin Yun and Xuan Ziheng.
On the platform.
Dragon God Technique!
Lingyun Sword Art!
Lin Yun’s Purple Star Sword gleamed with light, entwined with a golden dragon, as he struck with unyielding force, his indestructible body surging with power.
The platform was only a few square metres, so the distance between them was minimal. The clash happened almost instantly as they unleashed their moves.
Under the crowd’s gaze, the two sword beams collided at astonishing speed, their powerful attacks bursting forth with a resounding “boom,” sending ripples that distorted the surrounding air.
In the impact, Xuan Ziheng was forced back half a step.
“How is this possible?” Xuan Ziheng, steadying himself, stared at Lin Yun in shock.
His earlier disdain was gone, replaced by sheer astonishment.
He had actually been pushed back in that exchange?
To think, he had used many of his techniques in that strike, aiming to defeat Lin Yun in one blow to awe the crowd.
Yet, he had still come up short, showing that Lin Yun was far tougher than he had imagined.
The spectators and trial participants below witnessed it all.
“What? Xuan Ziheng was the one pushed back in that clash?”
“This guy’s not simple. He actually has the strength to rival Xuan Ziheng!”
Gasps of shock swept through the crowd.
“This guy… he…” Guang Tiancheng was startled by the scene.
“Commander Guang, this guy seems really strong. He might actually have a shot at beating Xuan Ziheng!” Guang Tiancheng’s subordinate exclaimed.
…
Inside the arena.
“Xuan Ziheng, here’s a heads-up. I’m planning to end this in one move. Use all your skills now, hold nothing back, or you won’t get another chance,” Lin Yun said, smiling at Xuan Ziheng.
Xuan Ziheng’s face flushed with anger at these words.
To him, Lin Yun’s words were pure humiliation.
“Kid, you think I, Xuan Ziheng, am all talk? You really think you can defeat me?” Xuan Ziheng roared through gritted teeth.
“Yes, I do,” Lin Yun said, his lips curling slightly.
With that, Lin Yun raised his sword again, his Origin-level seventh-tier divine sense surging out, enveloping the blade for added power.
His Dragon Emperor Bone activated instantly.
“Cloud-Piercing Strike!”
With these forces combined, Lin Yun’s sword shot forward like lightning, striking at Xuan Ziheng with terrifying force.
“Water Ripple Scripture!”
Xuan Ziheng roared, his inner energy surging as a layer of flowing water seemed to coat his body, enveloping his sword. He struck back at Lin Yun’s attack.
The flowing water rippled through the air, subtly shaking the space, its softness laced with ferocity, clearly a powerful move.
Facing Lin Yun’s fierce attack, Xuan Ziheng poured his divine sense, physical strength, and all his trump cards into this one strike.
Boom!
In an instant, the two devastating attacks collided under the crowd’s gaze, dazzling and brilliant.
The water-encased sword trembled, holding for only a moment before shattering into countless droplets. Lin Yun’s remaining sword energy surged forward with ferocious momentum, striking Xuan Ziheng.
“You’re done!”
With a sharp cry, Xuan Ziheng was sent flying back hundreds of metres, crashing to the ground in a corner of the arena.
Xuan Ziheng was defeated!
With his loss, the occupant of this stone platform changed hands!
