C118 Defeated

Gazing at the Property Panel that had undergone significant changes in the Void before him, Lin Xuan gave a slight nod of approval.

"Only at the Qi Transformation Stage Peak? After spending over twenty thousand spirit stones and utilizing resources five times what's allotted to elite disciples, that's as far as I can go?"

Lin Xuan murmured to himself, a frown creasing his brow.

The Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts' demand for cultivation resources was staggeringly high, consuming several times what he would normally need.

His innate talent was decent, requiring several times the resources compared to his peers.

Now, with the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts in the mix, his resource consumption had skyrocketed to ten or even dozens of times that of others at his level.

The thought of such exorbitant expenditure sent a shiver down his spine.

It was clear that delving into the Pill Dao was becoming a necessity.

But before that, perhaps he could acquire some spirit stones from his fellow elite disciples and amass a good number of energy points.

Energy points were essential for duplicating various treasures, and one could never have too many.

With that in mind, Lin Xuan closed the Property Panel, rose from his seat, and exited the cultivation chamber.

He summoned Zhou Yun.

"Send a challenge to Tian Guangliang, ranked 23rd on the Strong List. Inform him that I'll face him in half an hour. Off you go."

Lin Xuan had committed the Strong List to memory after a brief look a few days prior.

"Yes, Young Master!" Zhou Yun responded, bowing with a grin that betrayed his excitement.

Rumors of Lin Xuan's strength nearing the top ten of the Strong List had reached him, yet he had yet to witness it firsthand.

His anticipation was palpable.

With that, Zhou Yun hurried off.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan freshened up, donning a fresh set of clothes. After taking a short rest, he slowly made his way out of the small courtyard.

He headed directly to Pavilion 23, not far off.

By now, a sizable crowd of disciples had gathered outside Pavilion 20.

Word of Lin Xuan's challenge had spread, drawing them all here.

Lin Xuan, a newcomer, had impressively broken into the Strong List and was even touted to possess combat prowess nearing that of the top ten.

The disciples were all abuzz with excitement, eager to see for themselves what was about to unfold.

Despite the myriad of rumors swirling around Lin Xuan, none had laid eyes on him before, leaving a sliver of skepticism in their minds.

Now, with Lin Xuan stepping up to issue a challenge, it was an opportunity they couldn't possibly pass up.

As Lin Xuan approached, the area erupted into a cacophony of speculation.

"Is that the Lin Xuan who's never been defeated in our sect?"

"He looks so young, doesn't he? And yet, his presence feels quite ordinary."

"Tian Guangliang is far stronger than Hu Yuanhua. I wonder how Lin Xuan will handle him."

"Exactly, this is our chance to see if Lin Xuan really lives up to the hype!"

The disciples' eyes were locked on Lin Xuan, their conversations a whirlwind of curiosity and anticipation.

Hearing their chatter, Lin Xuan remained composed as he made his way through the crowd.

Zhou Yun hurried over to greet him, saying:

"Young Master, I've delivered your challenge.

This is Young Master Tian Guangliang, the 23rd ranked contender on the Strong List."

With that, Zhou Yun gestured toward a stocky young man among the onlookers.

The stout Tian Guangliang stepped forward, eyeing Lin Xuan with a smirk:

"So, you're the Lin Xuan who took down Old Hu?"

"Correct."

Lin Xuan nodded in affirmation.

"And you're challenging me?"

Tian Guangliang probed further.

"Yes."

Lin Xuan confirmed.

"Then let's get started!"

Tian Guangliang declared, cutting to the chase.

Lin Xuan was taken aback by Tian Guangliang's directness, which was a welcome change; it meant no time would be wasted.

The disciples around them sensed the impending duel and instinctively cleared a generous space.

Each pavilion was surrounded by a vast expanse of open ground, designated for the elite disciples to practice and spar.

Each building was fortified with a specialized defensive Spell Formation, and the floors were laid with resilient black granite, impervious even to the might of those at the Spirit Opening Stage.

The safety of the surroundings was assured, free from the potential collateral damage of their clash.

Before long, only Lin Xuan and Tian Guangliang remained in the open space, standing at a distance, ready to confront each other's might.

"Lin Xuan, show me what you're made of," Tian Guangliang challenged.

Tian Guangliang launched his attack without any preamble. Clutching a long black rod, he swept it across towards Lin Xuan. Suddenly, the Artistic Conception of Earth burst forth with 10% of its power.

"Skyward Slash!" Tian Guangliang bellowed, and the momentum of the black staff surged, descending like a massive column with terrifying force.

Lin Xuan remained unfazed, his expression serene. He simply reached up with his right hand, not bothering to summon his true qi or deploy any martial arts. He appeared utterly defenseless, a stark contrast to the formidable Tian Guangliang.

The surrounding disciples watched with a shiver of anticipation. Was Lin Xuan's arrogance a sign of confidence in his abilities, or was it sheer conceit? They couldn't tell, but their interest was piqued.

In the next instant, as all eyes were fixed on the scene, Tian Guangliang's formidable staff came crashing down with a thunderous boom.

The shockwave of the strike rippled outwards, stirring up waves of energy. Even the nearby pavilion was enveloped in a level 1 light shield, which absorbed the shockwave before it vanished without a trace. Clearly, Tian Guangliang had not held back, unleashing his full might.

The disciples' clothing billowed in the gusts generated by the attack, but thankfully, as elite disciples, their own strength was considerable, and they suffered no harm from the aftershocks.

As the dust settled, everyone looked on in dumbfounded silence. Lin Xuan stood his ground, his right hand gripping the long black staff. Remarkably, he was completely unscathed, his hair and clothing as immaculate as before.

The crowd was utterly taken aback, unable to process the turn of events. Even Tian Guangliang stood there, his expression one of stunned disbelief.

He had not anticipated such an outcome. The latest Strong List had placed Lin Xuan's combat prowess near the top ten, and with the swirling rumors about Lin Xuan's capabilities, Tian Guangliang had taken no chances. He had attacked with all his might, even unleashing 10% of the Artistic Conception of Earth in his most powerful strike.

Yet, Lin Xuan had countered without invoking his true qi or martial arts, effortlessly catching the blow with a mere raise of his hand.

"Is this really happening?"

He couldn't bring himself to believe it!

Tian Guangliang was dumbstruck, but Lin Xuan was not.

With a slight movement of his right hand, which gripped the long black staff, Lin Xuan unleashed a force.

Across from him, the still-dazed Tian Guangliang felt an overwhelming power surge from the staff.

In a flash, he was sent flying helplessly through the air.

Lin Xuan followed with another palm strike.

This time, he refrained from employing martial arts or channeling his True Qi.

It was a simple, unadorned punch.

Yet to Tian Guangliang, it seemed as oppressive as a mountain bearing down on him, its might terrifying beyond measure.

Panic flooded his heart.

He shook violently, drenched in cold sweat, as a sense of mortal peril overwhelmed him.

He realized that if this palm strike connected, he would likely die instantly.

In desperation, he spurred his True Qi into action, embracing the Artistic Conception of Earth. With a defensive punch, he launched his counterattack.