C101 Admit Defeat

The display of strength that Lin Xuan had just revealed far exceeded that of his peers.

Despite their status as peak practitioners of the Condensation Spin Stage, with cultivation levels far surpassing Lin Xuan's, their middle age had sapped their potential. They couldn't even hold a candle to Lee Quan at level 8 of the same stage.

Yet, Lee Quan had been effortlessly defeated by Lin Xuan in a mere instant.

It was clear they stood no chance against Lin Xuan.

Amidst their shock, they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of awe.

The deacons inwardly sighed, never having imagined that Lin Xuan, a mere beginner of less than two months, would already surpass the decades of cultivation they had as Inner Sect deacons.

He truly deserved his reputation as the sect's top prodigy. His martial arts talent was nothing short of extraordinary.

Once again, he had shattered the sect's records.

On the platform.

Lin Xuan gazed at the attribute panel floating in the Void before him. Observing the surge in energy points, he gave a slight nod of approval.

This bout had netted him a substantial sum of energy points.

He had also accrued 30,000 contribution points.

Perhaps, he mused, there was more to be gained in the Fighting Arena.

Turning his attention to the side of the platform, Lin Xuan expected the referee to declare the outcome.

But he was taken aback to find himself alone; the referee was nowhere to be seen.

In the square, the referee offered an embarrassed smile.

The explosive force unleashed during the clash between Lin Xuan and Lee Quan on the platform had nearly inflicted internal injuries upon him.

Overwhelmed with shock and a tinge of fear, he had leapt from the platform to avoid harm.

Yet Lin Xuan had effortlessly sent Lee Quan tumbling from the platform, offering no resistance.

Feeling Lin Xuan's searching gaze, the referee quickly ascended the platform and proclaimed with clarity:

"Lin Xuan is victorious in this wagered battle!"

The referee's proclamation echoed across the Fighting Arena.

The crowd finally snapped to attention, erupting into a buzz of astonishment and admiration.

They were utterly astounded by Lin Xuan's prowess and innate gift.

And with that, Lin Xuan had once more amassed a significant number of energy points.

After the announcement, the referee turned his attention to Lin Xuan.

"Do you wish to continue defending the arena, Lin Xuan?" he inquired.

"No need."

Lin Xuan shook his head, tossing his Identity Badge to the deacon at the edge of the arena.

Lee Quan, seeing this, proactively approached and handed over his own badge.

He resignedly watched as the deacon transferred thirty thousand contribution points to Lin Xuan from his account.

Despite the sting of loss, he knew the rules of the sect were clear.

It didn't matter if he was merely an elite of the Inner Sect or even a Core Disciple; one must honor their bets.

Besides, he had no intention of making an enemy of Lin Xuan, a disciple with boundless potential, over a mere sum of contribution points.

So, he surrendered the wager without fuss.

The deacon then tossed the Identity Badge back to Lin Xuan, who caught it and leaped down from the arena.

All eyes followed him.

A path cleared spontaneously in the direction he moved, as the crowd assumed he was exiting.

But Lin Xuan had other plans. He made his way to another arena, where an Inner Sect elite stood guard.

He ascended the platform and offered a respectful bow.

"I am Lin Xuan, a regular disciple of the Inner Sect, and I wish to challenge you. Senior Brother Zhou, will you accept?"

This was merely a formality.

Having chosen to defend, Senior Brother Zhou was obliged to accept Lin Xuan's challenge or forfeit his position before the next bout.

The onlookers were momentarily taken aback, then their expressions turned to ones of bemusement.

What was Lin Xuan up to?

Zhou Feiyang was at the same level 8 of the Condensation Spin Stage as Lee Quan, but his strength paled in comparison.

Lee Quan had been swiftly defeated by Lin Xuan.

Why would Lin Xuan bother challenging Zhou Feiyang?

It seemed like a guaranteed victory.

Was Lin Xuan just stirring up trouble unnecessarily?

The crowd was puzzled.

But soon, some of the Inner Sect disciples caught on.

Lin Xuan must have been eyeing the stakes Zhou Feiyang had put up for his defense.

Renowned for his exceptional talent and hailed as the top disciple of the Drifting Cloud Sect, Lin Xuan's actual cultivation level was still modest, befitting that of an ordinary Inner Sect disciple.

The cultivation resources allocated to Lin Xuan by the sect were limited. The greater his cultivation talent and the stronger his abilities, the more resources he required. Lin Xuan's talent was unmatched within the Drifting Cloud Sect, and consequently, his need for cultivation resources was immense—potentially several times greater than that of his peers. What the sect provided was simply not enough.

Faced with this, Lin Xuan had no choice but to find his own solutions. Within the Drifting Cloud Sect, there were numerous ways for a strong cultivator to acquire resources, but the Fighting Arena was perhaps the simplest. By stepping into the arena to challenge others or by accepting challenges, he could claim rewards upon victory, assuming his strength was sufficient to avoid defeat.

Realizing this, many Inner Sect disciples had looks of sudden understanding. It made sense why Lin Xuan had frequented the Fighting Arena shortly after joining the Inner Sect, why he provoked others into battles, and why he even faced off against the Inner Sect elites.

If his goal was to gather cultivation resources, his actions were perfectly logical.

Zhou Feiyang, an elite on the arena stage and a fellow Inner Sect member, quickly grasped the situation as well. A wry smile crossed his face at the thought of becoming someone else's means to amass resources. Yet, as the Arena Lord, he was in no position to deny Lin Xuan a challenge.

With no other option, Zhou Feiyang braced himself and conceded, "Senior Brother Lin, your strength is undeniable. I'm no match for you. I concede!"

With that, he tossed his Identity Badge to the overseeing deacon. Even in defeat, the wager had to be paid—that was the law of the Fighting Arena.

Zhou Feiyang's surrender left the crowd in shock, their faces a mix of disbelief and confusion. An Inner Sect elite had been challenged by a regular Inner Sect disciple and had voluntarily surrendered? Such an event was unprecedented in the history of the Inner Sect, leaving many unable to come to terms with it for quite some time.

On the arena, Zhou Feiyang exhaled a long breath after his declaration, visibly easing in tension.

Considering that even Lee Quan had fallen to Lin Xuan, and Zhou himself was no match for Lee Quan, the prospect of facing Lin Xuan seemed daunting. He doubted he could withstand even a single move against Lin Xuan before succumbing to defeat.

Why subject himself to such humiliation? It made more sense to concede and maintain some dignity.

After all, if Lee Quan could lose to Lin Xuan, his own concession wouldn't be shameful. The others would come to understand his decision.

Lin Xuan's aim in issuing challenges was to gain contribution points and resources for cultivation.

Zhou decided to simply grant him those. This would also allow him to show goodwill and forge a connection with Lin Xuan.

Eager to ingratiate himself with a talent like Lin Xuan, Zhou promptly surrendered without any internal struggle.

Lin Xuan, momentarily taken aback, quickly regained his composure and acknowledged the surrender with a serene nod.

He then casually tossed his Identity Badge to an attendant by the arena's edge.

This outcome was ideal. He would acquire what he sought.

With no grounds to reject the offer, Lin Xuan remained silent.