C23 Final Round!

Before long, half an hour had slipped by.

Zhang Ping leaped onto the stage, surveying the crowd. He proclaimed loudly:

"This year's competition has reached the third round—the final showdown. The top three from the Ranking Competition will now commence their battles!

First up, Zhang Hee versus Chen Yu!"

His voice dropped, and a hush fell over the arena.

All eyes were riveted on the stage.

The lineup clearly indicated Lin Xuan as the top contender. Zhang Hee and Chen Yu were to clash, with the victor facing Lin Xuan for the championship.

This came as no surprise to the audience.

Lin Xuan had already demonstrated a level of prowess in earlier matches that far exceeded both Zhang Hee and Chen Yu.

They soon took their places on the stage.

At Zhang Ping's signal, the battle erupted.

Zhang Hee was determined to win, aiming to challenge Lin Xuan for the top spot.

He poured everything into this match.

Chen Yu, equally driven, fought with all his might for second place.

Yet, as the four prodigies of Green Jade City, their abilities were closely matched.

Zhang Hee was cautious not to reveal his ace in the hole too soon.

For a time, their powers seemed evenly matched, and the fight was fiercely intense.

The audience watched, completely engrossed.

Still, the spectacle couldn't quite match the previous bout where Lin Xuan had swiftly vanquished Wu Qilee.

Time flew, and after more than ten minutes, Zhang Hee began to pull ahead.

Minutes ticked by.

With a powerful final strike, Zhang Hee knocked Chen Yu down, claiming victory.

For the moment, he advanced to second place.

Zhang Ping declared:

"Zhang Hee is victorious in this match.

We'll take a half-hour break before the next one."

Zhang Ping's face remained stoic, his expression unaltered by Zhang Hee's win.

Defeating Chen Yu was expected, hardly a cause for celebration.

The real triumph would be if he could best Lin Xuan—that would be a feat worth celebrating.

But considering the struggle Zhang Hee faced against Chen Yu, one could only speculate about the upcoming challenge against Lin Xuan.

Despite Zhang Ping's role as the supervisor at the City Lord's Mansion, he harbored doubts about Zhang Hee's prospects in the upcoming duel.

Zhang Hee's eyes blazed with a warrior's spirit. After a brief glance at Lin Xuan, he descended from the platform and retreated to the stands to rest and recuperate. Lin Xuan responded with a scoff.

Soon, another half hour slipped by.

With clarity in his voice, Zhang Ping declared:

"Second match, Lin Xuan versus Zhang Hee!"

Silence enveloped the arena in an instant.

The crowd seemed to hold its collective breath, eyes riveted on Lin Xuan and Zhang Hee, brimming with expectation.

This could very well be the Ranking Competition's fiercest battle.

It was the match that would determine the champion.

The anticipation was palpable.

Under the watchful eyes of the audience, Lin Xuan and Zhang Hee rose from their seats.

Before long, they faced each other on the platform.

With a grave look, Zhang Hee surveyed them both and announced:

"Begin the match!"

He then stepped aside, awaiting the impending clash.

Lin Xuan remained cool and composed, not yet engaging.

His eyes swept over Zhang Hee.

"Name: Zhang Hee."

"Cultivation: Early Enlightenment Stage."

"Talent: High-grade Cultivation Talent, Low-grade Strength Talent, Substandard Speed Talent."

"Martial Arts: Mountain Quake Fist (Top Grade Rank 2, Initial Perfect Level)... Boiling Blood Technique (Top Grade Rank 2, Beginner Level, Incomplete)...."

"Personal treasure: None."

Lin Xuan studied Zhang Hee's attribute panel, his gaze sharpening. With a mere thought:

"[You have expended 1000 energy points to successfully copy the technique. You have acquired the Boiling Blood Technique (Top Grade Rank 2, Beginner Level, Incomplete).]"

He silently invoked the technique.

A subtle warmth coursed through his body.

A sly smile flickered across Lin Xuan's face.

"So, this flawed Blood Dao martial art is Zhang Hee's ace in the hole," Lin Xuan mused to himself.

Yet outwardly, his demeanor remained unchanged.

He had mastered the Boiling Blood Technique.

He knew well that it could stir his vitality, offering a burst of formidable power.

Still, Lin Xuan stood unfazed.

His array of talents far outshone Zhang Hee's, not to mention his arsenal of advanced martial arts.

Even with Zhang Hee's activation of the potent Blood Dao martial arts, which significantly boosted his strength, Lin Xuan remained unimpressed.

He saw an opportunity to harvest more energy points.

Lin Xuan reflected thoughtfully.

The caliber of this Blood Dao martial arts was beyond his expectations.

It was classified as Rank 2, yet he had spent a thousand energy points on it.

This suggested that its might was on par with that of a Rank 3 martial art.

Clearly, the strength of Blood Dao martial arts far surpassed that of other martial arts within the same rank.

Though its burst of power was brief, it was formidable.

Lin Xuan made a mental note to be cautious if he encountered it again in the future.

This all transpired in the blink of an eye, unnoticed by anyone.

Across from him, Zhang Hee's demeanor was grave as he bowed slightly and declared:

"Lin Xuan, you possess great strength!

But defeating me won't be as simple as you think!"

Zhang Hee seemed to lack the assurance of victory, despite holding a trump card.

Observing this, Lin Xuan couldn't help but inwardly chuckle.

Zhang Hee was indeed generous, already gifting him energy points.

Lin Xuan decided against inflicting serious harm.

Outwardly, he maintained his composure.

"Shall we put it to the test, then?"

With a serene expression, Lin Xuan launched his attack.

"Jade Shattering Fist!"

His fist tore through the air, causing it to burst with a fearsome force.

This punch was even mightier than his last.

The speed of his assault was so rapid that Zhang Hee had no chance to evade.

Zhang Hee countered with his own punch.

"Mountain Quake Fist!"

His punch was equally savage, his strongest yet.

He, too, was eager to measure the extent of the gap between him and Lin Xuan.

As all eyes were upon them, their fists met with a thunderous collision.

The resulting shockwave dispersed in every direction, rippling through the air.

Lin Xuan's frame shuddered but he remained rooted to the spot.

Across from him, Zhang Hee's face betrayed a flicker of concern.

He was hit by a torrential force that he knew he couldn't resist.

He found himself retreating uncontrollably, staggering back dozens of meters before he could finally regain his footing.

He was teetering on the brink of falling off the stage.

Zhang Hee stood at the edge of the arena, narrowly avoiding defeat.

The crowd was visibly shaken by the turn of events.

It was evident who the victor was.

Lin Xuan's prowess far surpassed that of Zhang Hee.

It seemed clear that Lin Xuan would claim first place in the competition.

That was the consensus among the spectators.

Zhang Hee was commendable in his own right, being the only one to withstand a punch from Lin Xuan and not be defeated.

He stood head and shoulders above the other disciples.

But facing Lin Xuan, his defeat was inevitable.

Atop the arena.

Lin Xuan gazed at Zhang Hee at the periphery, his fists clenched, his eyes reflecting a sense of satisfaction.

"You handle your power quite well."