Ten breaths later, everyone saw the figure of the martial artist from the Profound Yellow Sect disappear in the light screen.
"We’ve won!"
Seeing the figure of the martial artist from the Profound Yellow Sect disappear, the people present didn’t dare to confirm until Wei Chuzhi’s words "We’ve won" were spoken, and the scene erupted in thunderous cheers.
"We won, Senior Brother Lin actually won!"
"It’s truly an eye-opener, I didn’t expect Martial Path could be cultivated like this!"
Zhao Jingchuan and others marveled, while Father Lin and Mrs. Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief. A smile appeared on Jia Nanzhu’s old face, and the bulging veins on his originally thin arm also subsided.
"Village Chief, should we hold an ancestral ceremony?"
Amidst the villagers’ cheers, the second member of the Xu Family quietly asked the old village chief, Zhao Canghe.
Zhao Canghe glared at the second member of the Xu Family, irritated. Can ancestral ceremonies be held so frequently?
Didn’t you hear Lord Jia say that Lin Chen is going to challenge to the top?
This is just the first match, there are quite a few more. We can’t hold an ancestral ceremony after every win.
We must also give the ancestors some time to rest.
...
...
On the steps of Martial Arts Mountain, after defeating the disciple of the Profound Yellow Sect, Lin Chen remained calm. He hadn’t given it his all in this fight.
After exiting Martial Arts Mountain, Du Xiaofeng gave Lin Chen a pill, telling him to take it.
Every subsequent battle is crucial, and even without exerting his full strength, Lin Chen would not underestimate his opponents. He planned to adjust his condition to its best before challenging the next one.
While Lin Chen was restoring the innate power within him, the innate martial artists ranked ahead of him were also estimating Lin Chen’s strength based on this battle.
Some sect.
"Compared to two months ago, there doesn’t seem to be much change."
"If that’s the case, I might have the strength to fight him."
...
Some sect.
"If his strength remains like this, he can only stop at fourth place."
A young man’s eyes showed confidence; he was ranked third, and based on Lin Chen’s strength displayed in the recent battle, Lin Chen would definitely not be his match.
...
...
A quarter of an hour later, Lin Chen stood up and looked at his master: "Master, your disciple has recovered."
"Hmm, go ahead."
...
On the steps of Martial Arts Mountain, Lin Chen picked his next opponent.
On the Battle Plain.
Lin Chen looked at his opponent in front of him with a calm gaze.
"Brother Lin, before the battle, I have a question, and I hope Brother Lin can answer truthfully."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen frowned slightly but did not agree.
"Rest assured, my question doesn’t invade Brother Lin’s privacy. I just want to know the truth: did Brother Lin hold back his strength in the battle with Ban Yonghuai just now?"
"Yes."
Hearing this question, Lin Chen didn’t hide it and nodded.
Seeing Lin Chen nod, Xue Xing showed a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He had already guessed this result, but was unwilling to give up without asking.
In terms of strength, he was about the same as Ban Yonghuai. The reason he ranked above Ban Yonghuai was because he challenged Martial Arts Mountain earlier than Ban Yonghuai.
Ban Yonghuai had challenged him twice, ultimately ending in a draw as both sides exhausted their innate power.
Ban Yonghuai was the challenger, and a draw meant Ban Yonghuai’s challenge failed.
He couldn’t break Ban Yonghuai’s defense, but Lin Chen could. If Lin Chen had held back his strength, then Xue Xing would certainly not be a match for Lin Chen.
Being able to step into the realm of the innate under the age of twenty and still rank in the top ten of Martial Arts Mountain, they all had their pride, and Xue Xing believed Lin Chen wouldn’t deliberately deceive him.
"In that case, I concede."
Xue Xing chose to concede and looked at Lin Chen: "I hope Brother Lin can succeed in his challenge."
Having chosen to concede, Xue Xing’s mentality changed. Instead, he hoped Lin Chen could really reach the top. If Lin Chen succeeded, his choice to concede wouldn’t be seen as cowardice unwilling to fight, but as a sign of self-awareness.
Moreover, this way, he wouldn’t be the only one defeated by Lin Chen; everyone would lose to Lin Chen, so no one could laugh at anyone else.
Although his failure was painful, it was even harder to accept others’ success.
Xue Xing conceded, and his figure disappeared from Martial Arts Mountain, followed closely by Lin Chen.
"What’s going on, Xue Xing actually conceded in the top ten battle?"
"What did Xue Xing say to Lin Chen before conceding?"
"What did Lin Chen say to make Xue Xing concede voluntarily?"
Those ranked before Lin Chen were cursing inwardly. They were expecting to see a battle between Xue Xing and Lin Chen, hoping Lin Chen would reveal more of his trump cards.
Two months later, they’d come for another challenge, not even waiting for the Canglan Secret Realm, believing Lin Chen must have some backing.
On this point, these few were as clear as day.
I didn’t expect Xue Xing to surrender directly. Isn’t he afraid of being ridiculed, nor worried about disgracing the sect?
The steps of Martial Arts Mountain.
This time, Lin Chen did not leave Martial Arts Mountain but chose to continue the challenge.
The Battle Plain of Martial Arts Mountain.
"Lin Chen, I don’t know why Xue Xing surrendered."
The young man’s eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, his whole body shrouded in a layer of protective gang qi, clearly prepared for battle, and his voice was firm:
"But for this challenge, don’t think you can win without a fight! Unless I completely fall and lose all power to resist, this battle will not end carelessly! Show all your strength!"
The man stomped heavily, the ground beneath him cracking, energy surging around him, clearly ready to fight.
Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. Xue Xing’s voluntary surrender made him thoughtful.
Perhaps, he could subdue others without fighting.
The premise is to show enough strength to intimidate these people.
"Surrender only when you lose the ability to fight, huh?"
Lin Chen squinted his eyes slightly, golden wings appeared behind him, and his entire body began to expand.
"Please enlighten me!"
As soon as he finished speaking!
An unprecedented terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Lin Chen!
Dazzling golden flames soared into the sky like a blazing sun, huge golden wings "boomed" open behind him instantly! Every feather was clearly visible, burning fiercely, emitting a terrifyingly high temperature as if boiling mountains and seas.
What’s even more shocking is that at this moment, Lin Chen’s body transformed into a giant over ten feet tall, seemingly the Lord of Flames of this world.
"What?"
Xu Guanlan saw this scene, his pupils suddenly contracting, feeling a hint of regret in his heart at this moment. The aura Lin Chen unleashed was too astonishing, far beyond his expectations.
Outside the light screen, several youths watching were also staring intently at it.
No probing, no holding back, Lin Chen aimed for absolute domination!
Boom!!
The giant-sized Lin Chen, propelled by his golden wings, moved at such speed that a sharp sonic boom trailed behind! Leaving only a fiery afterimage at the original spot, his massive burning palm had already ripped through the air, bringing with it an overwhelming force and terrifying heat that scorched the soul, slamming down fiercely!
The speed was so fast that Xu Guanlan didn’t even have time to think!
"Roar—! Hold on!"
Xu Guanlan’s eyes were wide open, instantly pushing all his protective gang qi and defense secret techniques to the limit, forming several palpable energy barriers in front of him.
Crack! Crack! Crack—!
However, in front of the giant palm of golden flames, these protective gang qi barriers shattered like fragile glass!
The giant palm, with an unstoppable posture, struck Xu Guanlan hard!
Spurt!
Xu Guanlan’s body flew backward, blood gushing from his mouth, and he felt an indescribable force, mixed with extreme power, terrifying heat, and even a divine soul impact, crash into his body, completely unable to resist.
However, Lin Chen’s attack did not stop; he flared his wings, and his form whistled forward again.
Slap!
In a move that came after but arrived before, as Xu Guanlan barely regained his footing, another palm struck down.
Slap!
Slap!
Slap!
All the martial artists watching the battle felt their hearts racing. An Innate Martial Artist was being battered like a sandbag by Lin Chen, with no power to counterattack.
At this moment, all of Xu Guanlan’s clothes had been completely burned by the flames, and with each blow that sent him flying, blood sprayed out.
It was too tragic!
Having just come down from Martial Arts Mountain, facing the somewhat strange looks from the senior brothers around him, Xue Xing, who was about to explain, now had a smile on his face.
No need to explain.
Xu Guanlan’s fate explained it for him.
Surrendering was the wise choice.
...
In a silent place, a figure hurriedly appeared in front of a valley.
Inside the valley, all was silent as if no living beings existed.
"Senior brother, Lin Chen just fought with Xu Guanlan, ranked seventh, on Martial Arts Mountain, and Xu Guanlan couldn’t fight back at all."
A few breaths later, a cold voice echoed in the valley: "I know."
...
The plain of Martial Arts Mountain.
Xu Guanlan lay motionless on the scorched earth.
The flames on Lin Chen disappeared, and he returned to his original form, fulfilling Xu Guanlan’s request to leave him with no fighting strength.
"As you wished."