C53 One Palm

Soon, Wang Kui and Lin Xuan were facing each other on the platform.

"Let the match begin!"

The officiating referee declared.

Wang Kui spoke with icy disdain:

"Lin Xuan, I have no clue how you've managed to deceive everyone, the Head Elder included.

But now, there's no way you can keep up the charade, is there?

Prepare to be defeated by me!"

Many disciples had yet to witness Lin Xuan's skills, and they harbored doubts about his prowess.

A few were outright disbelievers of Lin Xuan's reputed strength, with Wang Kui among the skeptics.

With his words still hanging in the air, Wang Kui launched his attack.

"Rock Shattering Fist!"

His punch thundered out, vibrating with energy that seemed to split mountains and shatter stones, impressive in its might.

Onlookers' eyes sparkled with recognition.

That single punch was evidence enough of Wang Kui's top twenty ranking strength.

All eyes then turned to Lin Xuan, curious to see his response.

Lin Xuan let out a cold laugh, foregoing any further talk.

Their limited perspective led them to accuse him of deceit.

They were only fooling themselves.

This was his chance to show them the harsh truths of reality and power!

And, incidentally, to collect some energy points.

Without delay, Lin Xuan countered with a palm strike.

"Shocking Wave Palm!"

His palm cut through the air, unleashing a torrent of wave-like energy.

His power matched Wang Kui's punch in every way.

As everyone watched, their palm and fist met in a clash.

In that instant, Wang Kui's face twisted with shock.

He felt overwhelmed by a tidal force so immense it seemed to threaten the heavens themselves, leaving him utterly astounded.

Such strength was beyond what someone at the Qi Gathering Stage like him could withstand.

Instantly, Wang Kui realized that the events in the Puppet Tower could very well have been Lin Xuan's doing.

Lin Xuan's strength was indeed formidable, and there had been no deception.

Yet, Wang Kui found it hard to come to terms with this. His disbelief in Lin Xuan's abilities had led him to issue the challenge.

He aimed to unmask Lin Xuan, while also seizing a chance to break into the top twenty.

But now, it was clear that he had been mistaken, and not just by a little. The sheer force of that palm strike was well beyond his ability to defend against.

Wang Kui was suddenly filled with regret.

But it was too late for second thoughts.

In an instant, following a sharp crack, Wang Kui's fist dropped limply.

Lin Xuan's palm pressed on, striking Wang Kui's chest with unyielding force.

A sound of bones shattering echoed.

Wang Kui's chest caved in immediately.

Then, with a booming sound, he was sent flying like a ragdoll hit by a cannonball, crashing to the ground.

Wang Kui lay there, his body battered, bleeding profusely, nearly a bloodied figure, his breathing faint, clearly in critical condition.

The crowd, initially stunned into silence by the spectacle, soon erupted into a buzz of conversation.

"Wang Kui is a top twenty contender, yet he was taken down by Lin Xuan? Am I seeing this right?"

"And he's seriously injured, too. With those wounds, he'll be bedridden for months, won't he?"

"Well, that's what he gets for his arrogance. He provoked Senior Brother Lin."

"It seems Senior Brother Lin's strength is undeniable. I bet within the Outer Sect, only the three top masters could give him a run for his money, right?"

"Most likely."

The disciples around the arena were visibly shaken.

They hadn't anticipated that Wang Kui, with his top twenty ranking, would be bested by Lin Xuan—a newcomer of merely one month—with a single strike.

That meant Lin Xuan, who was at the Early Enlightenment Stage just a month ago, now possessed strength that eclipsed most at the Peak of the Qi Gathering Stage.

His power was truly astonishing to the disciples.

No one in the Outer Sect could hold a candle to Lin Xuan.

And it wasn't just the Outer Sect; even within the Inner Sect, there was no match for him.

Among the sect's core disciples, only a select few could even begin to compare.

Lin Xuan was indeed deserving of the Third Elder's praise; his talent was exceptional.

Moreover, the skepticism surrounding Lin Xuan's performance in the Puppet Tower had largely dissipated.

After all, Lin Xuan had demonstrated strength on par with the top three of the Outer Sect, making it entirely plausible for him to achieve such a feat.

Despite a few lingering doubts among some, Lin Xuan's feat was undeniable. He had blazed through the Puppet Tower from level 1 to level 6, obliterating even the formidable Ironman, all in under a minute—a feat far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Outer Sect disciple. Even Chen Yuze, who had reached the Qi Transformation Stage, took three minutes to accomplish what Lin Xuan did.

Lin Xuan's talent was exceptional; within the ranks of Core Disciples, few could match him. Yet, he was still in his infancy as a cultivator. To have broken through to the Qi Gathering Stage within a mere month of beginning was impressive enough.

To the other disciples, Lin Xuan's display of power seemed beyond belief. Meanwhile, Zhang Tao and Zhang Mingliang were utterly shaken, taking a while to come to terms with what they had witnessed. The shock was palpable in their eyes, but so was a sense of relief. Lin Xuan's talent had surpassed all expectations, reaching the Peak of Qi Gathering Stage in just one month. The pace of his growth was both awe-inspiring and unfathomable.

Thankfully, they had recognized Lin Xuan's potential early on and had made amends for past grievances, a move that now seemed incredibly wise. With Lin Xuan's rapid ascent, they couldn't begin to imagine the heights he would reach in the coming months. The thought was beyond their comprehension; if Lin Xuan sought revenge, they knew that neither they nor their families could withstand his wrath. They would be truly plunged into an abyss.

Resolved to avoid such a fate, they silently vowed never to cross Lin Xuan again and instead sought to forge a friendship with him. The benefits of such an alliance were clear, even if their chances of success were uncertain.

The other new disciples who had gathered to spectate were left with mixed feelings, reflecting on their own shortcomings. Not one had made it through the Puppet Tower's elimination round, and none had even reached the Qi Gathering Stage.

Yet Lin Xuan had just effortlessly dispatched a cultivator at the Peak of the Qi Gathering Stage, propelling himself into the top twenty. There was a significant possibility he could climb even higher.

The gap between them was immense.

They found it hard to believe that they had all started as beginners alongside Lin Xuan.

But the undeniable truth was staring them in the face, leaving them no choice but to accept it.

Ultimately, they could do nothing but offer a wry smile.

In every group of disciples, there inevitably emerges a prodigy.

And Lin Xuan was that prodigy among them.

With Lin Xuan's presence, their generation of disciples would go down in history.

Yet, because of Lin Xuan, when their generation was spoken of, it would be his name that was remembered, while the rest were overlooked.

Lin Xuan had far outstripped them.

He was like the moon, casting them in shadow, mere specks of dust.

All they could do was quietly gaze up at him, trailing in his wake.