C148 Ranking Competition

Gasps reverberated through the air as the crowd in the arena erupted into noise.

"Senior Brother Lin Xuan truly lives up to his reputation as the sect's premier genius. He took down Zheng Yuan in the blink of an eye!"

"And he didn't stop there. It looks like he's completely crippled Zheng Yuan on the spot!"

"Indeed, Zheng Yuan has been reduced to a mere mortal. At his age, it's doubtful he could ever recultivate back to the Condensation Spin Stage."

"Brutal! The rumors are spot on; anyone who faces Senior Brother Lin Xuan is bound to end up with severe injuries!"

"Zheng Yuan provoked Senior Brother Lin Xuan, so it's only natural that his cultivation was destroyed."

"Plus, that palm strike from Senior Brother Lin Xuan cracked the arena itself—such formidable power!"

"The rumors don't lie. Lin Xuan's strength truly ranks with the top ten on the Strong List.

The third round of the Ranking Competition is shaping up to be quite the spectacle!"

"Absolutely."

The onlookers buzzed with excitement.

They were all deeply impressed by Lin Xuan's ferocity and combat prowess.

Yet, not a single voice rose to condemn Lin Xuan for crippling Zheng Yuan.

After all, Zheng Yuan had incited the crowd's wrath.

Coupled with Lin Xuan's illustrious reputation and boundless potential, as well as the fact that he hadn't broken any rules—merely shown a bit of cruelty—no one was willing to cross Lin Xuan over a fallen man.

Such was the harsh reality of their world.

Atop the high platform, the Inner Sect Elders nodded subtly, their eyes twinkling with a serene amusement.

Even though Lin Xuan hadn't revealed his full strength in this match, their keen eyes could discern the promise in his abilities.

Lin Xuan's foundation was remarkably solid, surpassing that of most Core disciples.

Yet, he still fell a tad short of Liu Qianyu.

But as the sect's acclaimed top genius, Lin Xuan surely had more up his sleeve.

They eagerly anticipated his future performances.

Back on the arena floor, Lin Xuan cast a dismissive glance at Zheng Yuan.

He had intentionally been harsh this time.

Taking advantage of him would not come easily.

If one dared to challenge him, they should be ready to face the consequences.

Lin Xuan aimed to leave a lasting impression of his unyielding ferocity.

To prevent everyone from thinking he was mild-mannered and easy to push around, Lin Xuan knew he had to set the record straight. This way, he could sidestep a lot of unnecessary hassle in the future.

Without delay, Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the crowd. The distant judge, catching Lin Xuan's eye, offered an awkward smile. He quickly made his way through the onlookers, leaped onto the stage, and proclaimed loudly:

"Lin Xuan wins this challenge!

His rank remains unchanged, holding strong at 28th on the Strong List!"

As he spoke, the judge's eyes darted to the cracks on the stage, a shiver running down his spine. He was relieved he had escaped the platform in time. After all, his own physical strength was no match for the special materials that made up the arena. If the stage itself had suffered cracks, it wouldn't have been surprising for him to sustain a few broken bones. Yet, it was clear that Lin Xuan hadn't even tapped into his full potential. His power seemed almost freakish, causing even the referee to shudder inwardly.

Lin Xuan, however, paid no mind to these reactions. Upon hearing the announcement, he leapt down from the stage and made his way to the small podium, all eyes in the venue on him. He briefly surveyed the top tier of the podium before heading to the vacant middle seat at the bottom level. The elite disciples in his row quickly stepped aside to make room for him. No one dared to show the slightest arrogance in his presence, for Lin Xuan's strength was formidable. Not even the top ten could be sure they'd best him, and he was likely capable of challenging the top three.

The disciples at the lower end of the Strong List didn't dare show any temper. They respectfully ushered Lin Xuan to his seat, pondering that after this Ranking Competition, he stood a good chance of breaking into the top three. To them, sitting alongside the top three on the Strong List would be an immense honor. They couldn't help but reflect on this quietly.

Lin Xuan then settled back into his seat with a serene demeanor, and only then did the rest feel at ease to sit down. The Elder of the Spiritual Essence Stage, overseeing the event from the high platform, then declared:

"The second round concludes!

The thirty-six of the Strong List have been determined!

They are the most formidable thirty-six Inner Sect disciples of our Drifting Cloud Sect."

They will be given priority training by the sect and receive generous rewards! Congratulations to them!"

With the conclusion of his announcement, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue.

The noise eventually subsided, and the Elder resumed:

"Now we move on to the third round, the Ranking Competition.

The rules remain as they have always been.

The thirty-six individuals on the Strong List will challenge one another.

Challengers can only challenge those ranked higher than themselves.

Each person gets only one opportunity to issue a challenge.

Moreover, each individual may accept no more than three challenges.

When challenging the same person, there must be a two-challenge interval.

Furthermore, the Ranking Competition holds significantly more weight than the previous two rounds.

Thus, all challenges will take place in Arena No.3.

That's everything.

Let the challenges commence!"

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, silence prevailed in the arena.

Eventually, an elite disciple rose and leaped onto the arena, bowing respectfully:

"My name is Yu Yu, ranked 24th, and I challenge Chen Lianshan, who is ranked 21st!"

As challenges could not be declined, the only option was to concede defeat.

Chen Lianshan quickly made his way onto the arena.

An Inner Sect Elder at the Middle stage of the Spirit Opening Stage ascended as well, serving as the referee.

In a resonant voice, he declared:

"Let the challenge begin!"

The two combatants, both at the peak of the Condensation Spin Stage and closely matched in rank, engaged in a fierce battle.

After a grueling several minutes, a victor emerged.

Subsequent matches unfolded in succession.

As time slipped by, an hour passed without notice.

Throughout this time, Lin Xuan and the top three of the Strong List had not yet participated.

No one dared to challenge them.

By now, Lin Xuan was regarded by the Inner Sect disciples as being on par with the Strong List's top three.

"It's time for me to issue a challenge," Lin Xuan mused, watching another bout conclude in the distance. He prepared to rise.

Just then, a tall figure clad in white had already taken a stand on the arena.

"Senior Brother Zhao, if you would," he said, his voice calm and composed, sparking a wave of excitement across the plaza.

The Inner Sect's female disciples erupted in cheers.

In contrast to Lin Xuan, the man in white didn't quite match Lin Xuan's looks, but his humble demeanor and soft-spoken voice earned him the adoration of the female disciples.

"He actually got up there before me," Lin Xuan muttered to himself, dumbfounded.

The man in white stepping onto the stage was none other than Bai Yunfei, the third-ranked powerhouse on the Strong List.