C107 Shocking

Before the onlookers, Hu Yuanhua lay on the ground, his breath faint.

Despite the pain wracking his body, he remained conscious.

Staring at Lin Xuan amidst the debris, Hu Yuanhua's face was a mask of disbelief, his eyes wide with shock.

"I was too arrogant, or rather, I grossly underestimated Lin Xuan," he admitted with a wry laugh.

His plan had been to challenge Lin Xuan, leveraging his status as an elite disciple against Lin Xuan's reputation as an ordinary Inner Sect member, hoping to elevate his own fame.

But Lin Xuan's power had surpassed even the wildest rumors.

After releasing his full might, Hu Yuanhua was swiftly defeated by Lin Xuan.

Had he not retreated promptly, he might have perished right there.

It was only now that he recognized his own hubris in daring to challenge Lin Xuan.

Now, he faced not only injury but potentially endless mockery.

In this moment, he also recognized the frightening extent of Lin Xuan's talent.

As an elite disciple, he knew before the challenge that Lin Xuan had reached the Seventh Level of the Qi Transformation Stage.

His own realm was solid; he was a typical Inner Sect disciple in appearance.

Yet, Lin Xuan's strength was formidable. Even he, at the peak of the Condensation Spin Stage and ranked on the Strong List with prospects of receiving the true teachings, was easily bested.

The revelation was staggering.

To the world, Lin Xuan was merely an ordinary Inner Sect disciple. Despite the high regard from the upper ranks, he wasn't taken as a disciple by any of the sect's masters, and the special treatment he received was minimal.

In terms of cultivation resources and martial arts techniques, he was on par with the Inner Sect elite at best.

Lin Xuan shouldn't have been a match for an elite disciple like him.

Yet Lin Xuan possessed such formidable strength, which could only be attributed to one thing: his talent.

Talent encompassed not just auxiliary aspects like cultivation aptitude but also inherent abilities in strength, speed, swordplay, and other attributes that directly enhance combat prowess.

Lin Xuan, with limited cultivation resources and basic martial arts techniques, was only at the Seventh Level of the Qi Transformation Stage, barely into its late phase.

Lin Xuan's combat prowess was astonishingly formidable. Even at the peak of the Condensation Spin Stage, he found himself effortlessly overpowered by Lin Xuan.

This clearly demonstrated his exceptional talent across the board, a fact that was both startling and beyond belief!

Moreover, he recalled the recent rumors swirling about Lin Xuan.

Back in the Fighting Arena, when Lin Xuan was merely at the Fourth Level of the Qi Transformation Stage, he faced off against Chen Xiao, an elite disciple from the Inner Sect at the third level of the Condensation Spin Stage. Lin Xuan didn't just employ his sword techniques; he also unleashed 10% of his sword intent.

But what about now?

He hadn't shown a hint of his sword intent, nor had he even wielded his sword.

Yet, Lin Xuan's two martial arts moves had effortlessly dismantled his full-force offensive.

The disparity in their strength was simply too vast, exceeding more than a dozenfold.

In just a matter of days, Lin Xuan's abilities had skyrocketed to this incredible degree, a testament to his frightening talent.

Hu Yuanhua was profoundly shaken by this realization.

It was then that Hu Yuanhua understood that the acclaim Lin Xuan received as the Drifting Cloud Sect's top prodigy was no exaggeration.

Far from overestimating, it seemed they had actually underestimated Lin Xuan.

In his view, Lin Xuan wasn't just the sect's foremost talent; he had eclipsed all the geniuses the Drifting Cloud Sect had seen in decades.

At least in recent memory, there hadn't been anyone in the entire Cangyuan Country with Lin Xuan's level of strength.

Contemplating this, Hu Yuanhua was overwhelmed with astonishment, struggling to maintain his composure.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan stood silently amidst the ruins of the Fighting Arena, gazing at the aftermath with a sense of disbelief.

He hadn't anticipated this outcome.

After Hu Yuanhua had unleashed his full might and channeled two powerful Concepts, the force of his attack had significantly exceeded the peak of the Condensation Spin Stage.

He had been cautious not to underestimate it.

Fortunately, after practicing the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts, his physical strength had surged. Now, he was eager to test the limits of his newfound power.

Lin Xuan unleashed the full force of his physical strength with a push of his palms.

He was confident that it would be sufficient to fend off Hu Yuanhua's strike.

Even if he failed to withstand the assault, he figured he could use the moment to make a strategic withdrawal.

What he hadn't anticipated was the sheer magnitude of his body's power, which was beyond his wildest dreams.

With a thrust of his palms, the unleashed force was torrential, unstoppable by anything in its path.

Hu Yuanhua's full-powered attack stood no chance against it.

Terrified, Hu Yuanhua ceased to resist and fled, propelled by the rebounding force.

Yet, he still sustained severe injuries.

The unleashed power was overwhelming, beyond even Lin Xuan's control as its wielder.

Ultimately, he had no choice but to let the tumultuous energy crash down upon the arena.

Predictably, the Fighting Arena, designed to endure peak Condensation Spin Stage battles, offered no resistance—it shattered into debris with a thunderous collapse.

The plaza below fractured into a web of cracks, as if struck by an earthquake.

The devastation was astonishing.

Lin Xuan looked on in disbelief, struggling to accept that he was the cause of such destruction.

It was only then that he grasped the fearsome nature of the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

Forget the Spirit Opening Stage—there were few at the Condensation Spin Stage who could withstand such a blow.

And here he was, merely at the Seventh Level of the Qi Transformation Stage, wielding such formidable power.

What's more, he hadn't even mastered the basics yet.

"The Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts must have a far more significant origin than I ever imagined," Lin Xuan mused with a heavy heart.

This battle had made it clear that the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts was not merely a Rank 8 martial art but one of a much higher caliber.

Such a technique was beyond the reach of the Scorching Sun Domain, its origins unfathomable to him at present.

His one solace was having learned the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

He was convinced that this potent martial art would serve as a key asset for a considerable time ahead.

After some time passed,

Lin Xuan exhaled deeply, regaining his composure. He then turned and descended from the remnants of what was once the arena.

He turned his gaze to the throng assembled beyond the square.

At that moment, the disciples and deacons clustered around the perimeter were all intently focused on Lin Xuan.

The astonishment within them had already peaked, reaching a crescendo of disbelief.

But now, they snapped back to reality.

As they caught Lin Xuan's eyes sweeping over them, a sense of anticipation hung in the air.

The previous referee stepped forward, his voice ringing out with authority:

"Lin Xuan is victorious in this wagered battle!"