C79 A Punch Sent Him Flying

Sun Cheng, standing opposite, wore a grave expression.

"You're the Lin Xuan?"

"Unless there's another new disciple by that name, I'm your man," Lin Xuan replied with a nonchalant air.

Hearing this, Sun Cheng's face grew even more serious.

A person's name is akin to the shadow of a tree.

Given Lin Xuan's renown, he was bound to be skilled.

No longer did Sun Cheng feel inclined to ridicule him.

Instead, he regarded Lin Xuan as a formidable adversary.

Then, Lin Xuan's voice cut through the silence once more.

"What's your wager?"

"Five hundred contribution points, or fifty-five Substandard spirit stones," Sun Cheng answered.

Ten contribution points could typically fetch at least one Substandard spirit stone.

But the actual exchange rate tended to be higher.

Of course, the sect's rules prohibited reverse exchanges.

"Hmm."

Lin Xuan nodded, acknowledging the substantial stake.

"Fine, I'll take your wager."

He produced his identity token and tossed it to a nearby deacon.

"Kindly record this."

The deacon caught the token, verified its authenticity, and felt a tremor of realization.

"This is Lin Xuan."

As an Inner Sect deacon with cultivation at the Condensation Spin Stage Middle stage, he recognized at a glance that Lin Xuan was at the Qi Transformation Stage Level 4.

This revelation left him profoundly astonished.

An identity token couldn't be counterfeited.

So, this was indeed the new disciple, Lin Xuan.

Yet at his entrance talent assessment, Lin Xuan's cultivation was merely at the Early Enlightenment Stage.

Now, just over a month and a week later, Lin Xuan had ascended to the Qi Transformation Stage Level 4, on par with the Middle stage of the Qi Transformation Stage.

He had leaped across two major realms in under forty days.

Setting aside all else, his pace of cultivation was nothing short of astounding.

He now grasped why the Sect Seniors held Lin Xuan in such high regard.

With Lin Xuan's formidable rate of advancement, he was certainly a prodigy.

Indeed, he stood among the elite of the entire sect.

Snapping out of his reverie, the deacon completed the registration and flung the identity token back to Lin Xuan.

He gazed at the arena, filled with expectation.

Considering Lin Xuan's rapid cultivation progress, just how formidable might his strength be?

Surely, he wouldn't disappoint, right?

Lin Xuan's renowned reputation alone was enough to draw a crowd of Inner Sect disciples to the match.

He was confident that this time, he would witness Lin Xuan's true capabilities.

The deacon mused silently.

On the stage.

The referee surveyed the scene, noting that all was in order, and declared,

"Let the duel commence."

The surrounding disciples and onlookers were drawn to the stir of activity.

Though they might not see Lin Xuan's full prowess in this bout, they were eager to glimpse any hint of it.

Everyone was curious to see if Lin Xuan truly lived up to his fame.

In the arena.

Sun Cheng spoke with an icy edge.

"Lin Xuan, your talent is undeniable, having come this far from your beginnings as a new disciple.

But does your strength match your talent?

I'll be the judge of that."

With those words, he charged at Lin Xuan.

The air seemed to compress in his wake, the force of his assault astonishing.

In facing Lin Xuan, Sun Cheng took no chances, striking with all his might.

"Mountain Quake Fist."

With a low shout, Sun Cheng launched his punch.

The impact resonated like an earthquake, its power unmatched.

Shockwaves visibly rippled out, crackling through the air.

The very atmosphere seemed to fracture under the punch's might.

"Lin Xuan, you're going to lose."

Sun Cheng's fist moved with blinding speed.

In a mere breath, he had closed the distance to Lin Xuan.

The crowd in the square tensed, catching only a blur of motion, far beyond their ability to intercept.

The disciples inwardly acknowledged Sun Cheng's skill.

A seasoned master of the Sixth Level Qi Transformation Stage, his punch carried the weight of someone in the advanced stages. Within the Inner Sect, few could hope to endure such a blow.

Their eyes returned to Lin Xuan.

How would the illustrious Lin Xuan counter Sun Cheng's formidable onslaught?

Among the spectators, Chen Yuze's eyes were fixed on the stage.

This punch was significantly more powerful than the one that had knocked him back.

His opponent may not have been going all out at the time.

Now, facing Lin Xuan, he unleashed his full capabilities.

Clearly, he regarded Lin Xuan as a far superior challenger, despite both being new to the Inner Sect.

Sun Cheng was eager to witness how much Lin Xuan's talent had enhanced his abilities over the past seven days.

In the arena.

Lin Xuan absorbed the impact of the punch with a serene expression and countered with a forceful punch of his own.

"Tyrant Fist!"

His punch carried immense power and an unrivaled commanding presence.

To the onlookers, Lin Xuan's technique appeared to be just an incredibly fast punch.

But through Sun Cheng's eyes, Lin Xuan was like an invincible sovereign, exuding sheer dominance.

His might was beyond comparison.

It was more than Sun Cheng could handle.

In a flash, his fighting spirit evaporated.

And then, their fists collided.

The resulting boom echoed thunderously.

Lin Xuan remained unmoved, his expression icy.

He withdrew his fist slowly, as if the clash was trivial.

Across the way, Sun Cheng screamed in agony. He was hurled back, slamming into the plaza with a heavy thump.

His right arm grotesquely twisted, blood gushed out. The fracture was severe, and his injuries substantial.

The surrounding disciples stared, wide-eyed and frozen, utterly astounded.

After a moment, the crowd began to stir.

The noise level surged as the area erupted into a cacophony of voices.

"Was Sun Cheng just instantly defeated like that?"

"Is this the extent of Lin Xuan's power?"

"He's incredibly strong!"

"He truly is a top-tier prodigy. Not only does he cultivate rapidly, but his strength has also skyrocketed."

The disciples buzzed with conversation, their eyes still fixed on Lin Xuan, standing dominantly on the platform, their expressions filled with awe.

They had not anticipated that a match between Lin Xuan, a newcomer to the Inner Sect, and Sun Cheng, a seasoned Inner Sect disciple at the sixth level of the Qi Transformation Stage, would conclude so dramatically.

Lin Xuan had vanquished Sun Cheng in a mere instant.

While Sun Cheng's punch had no effect on Lin Xuan, Sun Cheng himself was knocked out of the ring, coughing up blood. With his right arm broken, his injuries were far from minor.

The gap in strength between the two was unmistakable.

At that moment, Lin Xuan's power was nearly indistinguishable from someone at the Peak of the Qi Transformation Stage.

The hearts of all the disciples were filled with profound shock.

If they had harbored doubts about the rumors surrounding Lin Xuan before...

Now, they were convinced.

His rapid pace of cultivation and his ability to leapfrog stages were undeniable.

His exceptional talent was clear to everyone.

His status as one of the sect's elite was no myth.

The disciples were once again astounded by Lin Xuan's innate gift.

Among the onlookers,

Chen Yuze's eyes were wide with astonishment, and he stood frozen in place. His gaze towards Lin Xuan was filled with incredulity.

"How can this be?" he murmured, lost in disbelief.

It wasn't until the area erupted in noise that he snapped out of his trance.

Yet, his eyes remained fixed on Lin Xuan, the shock and disbelief etched on his face as intense as ever.