C22 Top Three!

In the eastern stands, the leadership of the four major powers was left in a state of shock for quite some time, struggling to believe what they had witnessed.

This included the Lin Family.

Even though they had been aware of Lin Xuan's breakthrough to the Enlightenment Stage at the Lin Family Martial Arts Practice Field, his rate of cultivation still left them astounded.

They had not anticipated Lin Xuan's formidable strength.

They themselves had advanced to the Enlightenment Stage within a month, and the disparity in their cultivation levels should have been minimal, given that they practiced the same martial arts.

Yet, Wu Qilee was effortlessly slain by Lin Xuan in mere moments.

The outcome far surpassed their expectations.

Lin Yun, upon seeing this, couldn't help but sport a wry smile.

Having seen Lin Xuan's capabilities firsthand, he abandoned any thoughts of vying with him.

Without a doubt, Lin Xuan was the Lin Family's premier prodigy.

The disciples from the other three great forces on the stands were utterly astonished, their expressions filled with disbelief.

If even Wu Qilee could be vanquished so swiftly, what chance did they stand, being even less skilled than him?

They had now seen Lin Xuan's power with their own eyes.

Truly, he was the foremost talent of Green Jade City.

With no other aspirations left, they could only offer their admiration and respect.

In the City Lord's Mansion's seating area, Zhang Hee, who had previously exuded confidence, now looked ashen, his lips quivering.

The prowess Lin Xuan had demonstrated in the fight was overwhelmingly potent.

Zhang Hee was so intimidated that his self-assurance evaporated.

"I still have the Boiling Blood Technique. I can win this!" he reassured himself.

Suddenly, a spark of determination flickered in Zhang Hee's eyes, and he was overcome with a surge of resolve.

On the elevated platform, City Lord Zhang Wenyong, the Chen family, and the Wu family were all taken aback.

Once they regained their composure, their expressions darkened.

Lin Xuan's revealed strength had also caught them off guard.

Many at the middle stage of the Enlightenment Stage paled in comparison to him.

Perhaps only those at the late stage of Enlightenment could be confident of victory.

Against such a formidable Lin Xuan, their own disciples stood no chance.

It appeared that their plans had been thwarted.

Zhang Wenyong cast an unintentional glance toward Zhang Hee.

Only Zhao Quxin and Lin Qiyu remained unfazed.

Both were at the Condensation Spin Stage, several levels above Lin Xuan.

They could roughly discern Lin Xuan's aura and strength.

The outcome of the match didn't catch them off guard.

Their smiles broadened.

"Congratulations, Host, for obtaining 1,000 Shock Energy from Zhang Xingxing, a Seventh Level Qi Transformation Stage warrior."

"Congratulations, Host, for obtaining 500 Shock Energy from Wu Long, a martial artist at the Peak of the Qi Gathering Stage."

Lin Xuan stood his ground, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched his energy points soar.

"We're at 230,000 now."

Lin Xuan nodded, his satisfaction growing.

His strategy was indeed effective.

Defeating one of the once-celebrated four prodigies of Green Jade City in a flash yielded the best results.

He reaped the most energy points.

Next on his list was Zhang Hee.

This encounter should net him a substantial amount of energy points.

He had already devised a plan to handle Zhang Hee.

Post-tournament, he estimated that he could amass three hundred thousand energy points before his departure from Green Jade City.

And these points would suffice for him to freely duplicate and secure his status within the Drifting Cloud Sect.

Lin Xuan mulled over his plans silently.

Then, Zhang Ping's voice rang out.

"Lin Xuan is victorious. He advances to the next level!"

Zhang Ping declared with clarity.

His gaze on Lin Xuan was complex, betraying his astonishment.

Lin Xuan's demonstrated power had surpassed his predictions.

Only now did he fully grasp the situation, remembering his role and announcing the verdict.

The astonishment in his heart scarcely diminished.

His words snapped everyone to attention, and a wave of excitement swept through the crowd.

All eyes converged on Lin Xuan, filled with awe.

Amidst the attention, Lin Xuan leaped from the stage and made his way to the stands.

"Lin Xuan, congratulations."

Lin Shiyun approached him with a beaming smile as he took his seat.

Her excitement was palpable, as if she herself had claimed victory.

"I just got lucky," Lin Xuan replied with a smile.

The two leaned in close again, chatting and laughing together.

The second round of the elimination matches pressed on.

Lin Xuan's victory over Wu Qilee secured him a spot in the top three, leaving Wu Qilee outside of that elite bracket.

Zhang Hee, too, advanced to the top three.

Next up were Chen Yu's bouts against Lin Yun and Wu Qilee.

Due to Lin Xuan's overpowering punch that broke Wu Qilee's arm in a previous match, Wu Qilee was unable to continue, handing Chen Yu a win by default.

In the clash between Lin Yun and Zhang Hee, Lin Yun had exhausted much of his strength, diminishing his power.

Chen Yu, however, one of the four great prodigies, was at the top of his game.

The outcome was inevitable: Chen Yu emerged victorious.

The two matches concluded swiftly.

With his win, Chen Yu joined the ranks of the top three.

The finalists were now determined.

Zhang Ping's voice rang out across the venue.

"The second round of the elimination matches has concluded, and the top three have been determined."

"They are Lin Xuan, Zhang Hee, and Chen Yu!"

"These are the most formidable talents of Green Jade City."

"They will be awarded handsomely."

"Congratulations to them!"

His words were met with a thunderous round of applause.

The crowd gazed at Lin Xuan, Zhang Hee, and the others with a mix of awe, admiration, and envy.

Naturally, most eyes were fixed on Lin Xuan.

It was clear to all that his prowess had significantly outstripped the other two in the previous battle.

Barring any surprises, he was poised to take first place.

After the excitement in the arena had dialed down a bit, Zhang Ping continued in a clear voice.

"We will now take a half-hour break before moving on to the final match of the tournament."

This was standard protocol for the competition.

The earlier rounds had likely drained much of the contestants' energy.

A half-hour respite would allow them to recuperate, ensuring a fair fight.

This was well understood by all.

The crowd buzzed with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the continuation of the contest.

Lin Xuan continued to share jokes and laughter with Lin Shiyun at his side, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

In every duel thus far, he had vanquished his opponents with a single blow.

There was no need for him to recuperate his energy.

A short distance away, Zhang Hee cast a grave look toward Lin Xuan before consuming a pill and closing his eyes to rejuvenate.

He was up next to face Lin Xuan and couldn't afford to take any chances.

Similarly, nearby, Chen Yu popped a medicinal pill, threw a watchful eye over Zhang Hee, and took a moment to rest and restore his vitality.

He didn't spare Lin Xuan so much as a fleeting look.

The disparity in prowess between them was clear.

Chen Yu acknowledged his disadvantage against Lin Xuan, setting his sights not on first, but on outmatching Zhang Hee for the runner-up spot.

Zhang Hee, meanwhile, saw Lin Xuan as his true rival, hoping to play his last card to snatch the top honor.

Yet Lin Xuan remained composed, regarding neither as a threat worthy of his concern.