C56 Lin Xuan's Battle

The competition progressed steadily.

Before long, several more matches had concluded.

The second elimination round was nearly complete.

After a brief pause, the resonant voice of the Head Elder boomed from the elevated platform:

"The second elimination round has concluded.

The top ten contenders have been determined. They are Chen Yuze, Zhou Lei, Guan Yuanshuang, Lin Xuan, Su Ya...

Each one a top disciple from the Outer Sect, they will receive substantial rewards for their performance.

Congratulations to them!"

His words were followed by a thunderous applause that filled the arena.

The disciples gazed upon Chen Yuze, Lin Xuan, and the other eight with a mix of envy, admiration, and awe.

Securing a spot in the top ten was a clear testament to their exceptional talent and strength within the Outer Sect.

They truly deserved the disciples' reverence and admiration.

Lin Xuan, in particular, stood out. As a newcomer, he not only made it into the top ten, but the Head Elder also mentioned his name immediately after the first three.

The Head Elder announced their names in line with the theoretical rankings.

This meant that Lin Xuan was the sole new disciple to break into the top ten, and in the eyes of the Head Elder, he was ranked at least fourth.

This revelation sent a shockwave through the disciples, leaving them unable to contain their excitement.

They had previously deduced this from various clues, but hearing it confirmed by the Head Elder gave it a whole new weight.

It was only now that they fully accepted the reality that Lin Xuan, a beginner of just one month, possessed the strength to vie for a spot in the Outer Sect's top three.

His extraordinary talent was once again the subject of their amazement.

The elite ten stood apart from the rest, clearly distinguished from their fellow disciples.

Within this group, Lin Xuan remained composed, his gaze fixed on the Void before him.

The Head Elder's acknowledgment had netted him a significant number of energy points.

Lin Xuan was quite pleased with the outcome.

After a moment of silence settled over the crowd, the Head Elder resumed:

"We now move on to the third round, where the top three contenders will be decided.

Since the rewards for fourth through tenth places are identical, these positions will not be individually ranked."

Only the top three contenders would be ranked.

The competition remained an elimination round.

We will orchestrate duels, with the victor advancing and the vanquished bowing out, until the top three emerge.

I've already given the lineup to Deacon Zhang.

He will make the announcement.

Let the games begin!"

Atop the stage, Deacon Zhang, serving as the referee, clutched the roster and declared:

"First up, Zhou Lei versus Feng Yuan!"

His words dropped like stones into the crowd, eliciting shocked expressions from the gathered disciples.

The clash among the top ten promised far more thrills and intensity than the previous top twenty skirmishes.

And with Zhou Lei, the Outer Sect's second in command, entering the fray, the excitement was palpable.

The disciples wouldn't dream of missing this spectacle.

Their attention was riveted on the elite ten.

From this group, Zhou Lei and a female disciple, Feng Yuan, stepped forward.

Feng Yuan stood out as the only other woman in the Outer Sect's top ten besides Guan Yuanshuang.

Though not quite Guan's equal, she still outshone the majority of her peers.

Her striking beauty had earned her an almost divine status among the disciples.

Coupled with Zhou Lei's participation, the second-ranked powerhouse, the match set off a wave of cheers and focus.

Before long, the two ascended the platform and the battle commenced.

As expected, Zhou Lei, the formidable second-best of the Outer Sect, claimed victory.

A murmur of disapproval rippled through the crowd, some chastising Zhou Lei for his lack of chivalry.

But Zhou Lei remained unfazed by the murmurs, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Lin Xuan, a flicker of combativeness passing through his gaze.

He knew that with Chen Yuze's breakthrough to the Qi Transformation Stage, he was no longer a contender against him.

To Zhou Lei, only Lin Xuan, the formidable newcomer, stood as his true rival.

Regrettably, Lin Xuan seemed utterly unbothered, not even deigning to return Zhou Lei's challenging look.

It didn't rile him.

After all, given Lin Xuan's demonstrated prowess, no one else in the Outer Sect could stand toe-to-toe with him, aside from the top three.

A showdown between them was inevitable.

Soon, he would witness firsthand the might of Lin Xuan, the Outer Sect's premier prodigy!

The tournament pressed on.

Another match concluded.

"Next up, Lin Xuan versus Su Ya!"

Deacon Zhang's voice echoed across the arena.

Practically all eyes were drawn to the group of top ten contenders.

It was Lin Xuan's turn to battle once more.

His adversary this time was among the top five from the last Grand Competition.

Could Lin Xuan compel his opponent to concede, or perhaps dispatch him in a single blow?

The disciples were all eagerly anticipating Lin Xuan's showing.

No one entertained the thought of Lin Xuan being defeated.

His previously demonstrated prowess had already placed him at the pinnacle of the Outer Sect.

Who could possibly best Lin Xuan, aside from the Outer Sect's three supreme masters?

Meanwhile, Su Ya's face was clouded with dismay.

He hadn't anticipated facing Lin Xuan.

Had it not been for the three supreme masters and Lin Xuan himself, Su Ya might have had a shot at the top five.

Though there were no official standings from fourth to tenth.

Still, being known as one of the top five had a better ring to it than just the top ten.

Now faced with Lin Xuan, Su Ya could only silently bemoan his misfortune.

Yet, as a former top-five contender in the previous Grand Competition, Su Ya refused to simply roll over and surrender.

He had to face the challenge head-on.

Without delay, they stepped out from the crowd and onto the stage.

"Let the match begin!"

Deacon Zhang declared.

He then stepped aside, his anticipation for Lin Xuan's performance palpable.

Across from him, Su Ya bowed with his hands clasped and respectfully said:

"Senior Brother Lin, it's an honor. I humbly request your guidance!"

Su Ya's tone was exceedingly courteous.

He could only hope that Lin Xuan would exercise restraint.

Lin Xuan nodded, then took a step forward.

A gentle breeze whisked by.

In an instant, Lin Xuan vanished from sight.

The very next moment, he reappeared right before Su Ya.

"Incredible speed!"

All the Outer Sect disciples watching gasped as their eyes widened in shock.

Lin Xuan's velocity was so extreme that most couldn't even catch the path of his movements.

Compared to Guan Yuanshuang, renowned for her speed within the Outer Sect and who seemed just a shade slower than Chen Yuze during his Qi Gathering Stage, Lin Xuan's speed was nearly on par, wasn't it?

This marked the first occasion Lin Xuan unleashed his full capabilities.

It was at this moment the disciples truly grasped that Lin Xuan possessed the prowess to rank among the top three of the Outer Sect.

The three top masters of the Outer Sect watched with grave expressions.

Lin Xuan's agility alone positioned him as a formidable rival for them, not to mention the possibility of him harboring other potent martial skills.

Chen Yuze, however, remained somewhat composed. Having advanced to the Qi Transformation Stage, he had experienced a significant surge in strength.

Lin Xuan's agility no longer posed a threat to Chen Yuze.

Still, Chen Yuze couldn't afford to let his guard down completely.

After all, this was merely Lin Xuan's initial display of strength.

Chen Yuze couldn't be certain how much power Lin Xuan had actually shown.

And it might not even be the full extent of Lin Xuan's abilities.

Chen Yuze was wise to remain vigilant.

A defeat at the hands of Lin Xuan, a mere month into his beginner level, would be a severe blow to Chen Yuze's reputation.

Hence, Chen Yuze kept a watchful eye on Lin Xuan's match.

Just to be safe.

In the arena.

Su Ya's vision blurred, and before he knew it, Lin Xuan was standing right before him, leaving him utterly astounded.

Su Ya was aware of Lin Xuan's formidable strength, but he hadn't anticipated it to be to such an extent!

He couldn't even catch a glimpse of Lin Xuan's movement trajectory.

The disparity between them was beyond words.

But there was no time for Su Ya to ponder this.

Lin Xuan was already on the offensive.

"Mountain Crushing Fist!"

Lin Xuan's punch erupted, the force of his fist rippling with the power to split mountains asunder, an awe-inspiring sight to behold.