C102 Strong List Expert

After the bet was transferred, the referee handed the Identity Badge back to Lin Xuan.

Clutching the badge, Lin Xuan strode toward the next arena, where Inner Sect elites stood guard, all eyes in the arena fixed on him.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, the turn of events catching everyone off guard.

The Fighting Arena, once a place to hone combat skills, had seemingly become Lin Xuan's personal venue for racking up contribution points.

The situation was bizarre to the extreme, leaving the disciples at a loss for words.

Among the five arenas, Lee Quan was known as the strongest Inner Sect elite.

Yet, Lin Xuan had swiftly defeated him.

The others were clearly outmatched.

Taking a cue from Zhou Feiyang's earlier concession, they too found surrendering to be an acceptable option.

Consequently, as Lin Xuan issued his challenges, one by one, the elites chose to forfeit.

In the end, aside from two arenas where battles still raged, the Inner Sect elites defending the remaining five arenas had either surrendered or been vanquished by Lin Xuan.

Through these victories, Lin Xuan amassed a staggering 60,000 contribution points, along with a substantial sum of energy points.

Satisfied with his haul, Lin Xuan pocketed his Identity Badge and prepared to leap down from the arena and depart.

Yet, the assembly's attention remained riveted on him, including the watchful eyes of numerous Inner Sect elites.

Witnessing Lin Xuan's prowess, their expressions darkened with resentment.

Initially, these elites had come to the Fighting Arena with the sole purpose of drawing Lin Xuan into a challenge.

They had hoped to defeat him and restore the honor of the Inner Sect elites.

Lin Xuan did indeed show up, competing as an ordinary Inner Sect disciple, but not a single one proved to be his equal.

Even Lee Quan, a top-tier Inner Sect expert, was effortlessly dispatched in a mere two moves.

The others simply conceded defeat.

Given Lin Xuan's demonstrated might, none of the Inner Sect elites stood a chance against him.

Far from reclaiming their dignity, they had utterly lost face.

From this day forward, the entire Inner Sect elite cadre would likely endure relentless ridicule.

How could they possibly look pleased?

Their fear of Lin Xuan's formidable strength meant they had no choice but to bite their tongues. No one dared step up to challenge him.

All they could do was watch, with envy and resignation, as Lin Xuan, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, collected tens of thousands of contribution points before making his exit.

On the stage.

Lin Xuan stowed his Identity Badge in his storage ring and made his way to the edge of the arena, ready to leap down and depart.

But just then, a discordant, icy voice cut through the air.

"Hold on, I challenge you!"

The voice boomed like thunder across the Fighting Arena, sending a shockwave through the hearts of all who heard it.

They turned to see a striking young man in a black robe approaching.

He didn't radiate any particular aura, yet there seemed to be an invisible force field around him, parting the Inner Sect disciples to either side as he passed, including some of the late-stage Condensation Spin elites.

The sight of the young man's face caused a collective gasp; expressions froze, pupils contracted.

Silence fell over the arena in an instant.

But it was short-lived. The crowd erupted into a frenzy, their voices reaching the heavens.

"Am I seeing things? That's Senior Brother Hu Yuanhua from the Strong List!"

"Hu Yuanhua, who's ranked twenty-eighth? Can it be true?"

"Yes, that's Senior Brother Hu. Who would've thought he'd grace the Fighting Arena with his presence?"

"Indeed, the Fighting Arena is typically home to the ordinary Inner Sect disciples. It's only recently that some elites have shown up. But Senior Brother Hu from the Strong List? He's never set foot here before!"

"Perhaps Lin Xuan's overbearing presence has finally gotten under Senior Brother Hu's skin. Did you hear? He's issued a challenge to Lin Xuan!"

"That makes sense. Lin Xuan's winning streak might just come to an end."

"Since his initiation, Lin Xuan's rise has been meteoric, his progress nothing short of remarkable. He's even being whispered about as the sect's top prodigy, overshadowing many.

Even if he's not quite on par with the successor brothers, he's not far behind.

"And that rubs a lot of people the wrong way."

"Lin Xuan's been at the beginner level for less than two months. Despite his short training period and undeniable talent, can he really stand a chance against Senior Brother Hu, who's earned his place on the Strong List?"

"His unbeaten streak is on the line!"

The disciples buzzed with excitement, the noise reaching a fever pitch.

The arrival of Hu Yuanhua, a top contender on the Strong List, sent shockwaves through the crowd.

At the same time, there was an undercurrent of schadenfreude and snide remarks directed at Lin Xuan.

Since Lin Xuan's breakthrough just over a month ago, he had shattered numerous records, nearly eclipsing the sect's entire younger generation.

The senior disciples, who had been at the beginner level for years, were both astounded by Lin Xuan and felt the suffocating pressure of his achievements.

Whenever they thought of Lin Xuan, a wave of helplessness washed over them.

Next to Lin Xuan, their own genius seemed utterly ordinary.

They were all secretly yearning for someone to topple Lin Xuan.

Even if only once.

A single defeat would dim Lin Xuan's lustrous reputation.

And perhaps then, they could breathe a little easier.

This explained the disciples' shift in attitude.

But reality might not align with their wishes.

Defeating Lin Xuan was easier said than done.

As all eyes watched, the black-robed Hu Yuanhua leaped onto the stage, standing at a distance from Lin Xuan.

"What do you say, Junior Brother Lin? Are you up for my challenge?"

Hu Yuanhua's voice was icy.

"I am."

Lin Xuan returned the gaze, his eyes intense and focused.

"Name: Hu Yuanhua."

"Cultivation Level: Peak of the Condensation Spin Stage."

"Talent: Superior Cultivation, Top Strength, Top Speed, High Saber, Top Crimson Fire, Middle Violent Wind, Middle Earth, Middle Sharp Gold."

"Martial Arts: Crimson Flame Formula (Initial Perfect Level, Low Rank 6), Flaming Burning Saber Technique (Great Completion, Rank 5 High-grade), Fire Feather Fist (Great Completion, Rank 5 High-grade), Void Splitting Fist (Great Completion, Rank 5 High-grade), Raging Flame Palm (Great Completion, Rank 5 High-grade)..."

"Concept: 5% Saber Intent, 10% Artistic Conception of Fire."

"Personal Treasure: One Green Flame Blade (Spirit Weapon, Low Rank 6)."

Lin Xuan's eyes briefly flashed as he took in Hu Yuanhua's attribute panel.

He truly lived up to his reputation as a powerhouse on the Strong List.

Indeed, he was significantly more formidable than the rest of the Inner Sect disciples.

Even Lee Quan, a distinguished expert among the Inner Sect's elite, paled in comparison to Hu Yuanhua.

What caught Lin Xuan's attention most, however, was a coveted item within Hu Yuanhua's attribute panel.

With a single thought, Lin Xuan acted.

"You have expended 10,000 energy points to successfully duplicate and acquire [10% Artistic Conception of Fire]."

He swiftly copied the Artistic Conception of Fire to use upon his return.

Although Hu Yuanhua's other qualities vastly exceeded those of nearly everyone else present, Lin Xuan remained unimpressed by them.

And Lin Xuan managed to accomplish all this in less than the time it takes to draw a breath.

Of course, his actions went unnoticed by anyone else there.

Lin Xuan turned to Hu Yuanhua and added,

"Senior Brother Hu, it's an honor to be challenged by you.

But might we revisit the terms of the wager?"