Jin Zhuliu was ranked nine on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings. He was famous in the Dao Martial Department and boasted extremely illustrious battle accomplishments.
He was a tall, handsome young man. Every movement he made gave off an oppressive pressure that could only belong to a battle-hardened veteran.
Pah!
Without wasting any time, Jin Zhuliu threw out his identity token and arrived in the arena. His figure was as straight as a spear. Strands of light rose around him, making him appear refined and elegant.
Excitement immediately filled the air. The crowd was more pissed than ever with Lin Xun, and Jin Zhuliu’s entrance finally made them see hope that Lin Xun would soon be crushed.
“Taking turns to challenge me? Sure, let me rest for a while first. Even a Heaven Ascension expert won’t be able to take it after two consecutive battles.”
Lin Xun sat on the ground as he spoke.
The crowd was immediately filled with disdain. What a thick-skinned fellow. Even a Heaven Ascension expert won’t be able to take it? An expert of that level could continuously fight for three days without tiring!
Jin Zhuliu was expressionless as he frostily said, “I’ll give you the time. Do you need any recovery medicine?”
Lin Xun smiled and replied, “I’ll have to decline. What if it’s poisoned? I heard that there are several poisons that can cause someone to lose their strength without anyone noticing.”“You…”
Jin Zhuliu’s expression somehow turned even colder. It was a long time later before he finally said, “Later, I will let you taste the same miserable defeat that your cousin, Lin Xuefeng, experienced.”
It was a clear provocation. However, Lin Xun merely smiled faintly in response.
After a long time, Lin Xun rose to his feet and energetically said, “Come then.”
“Hmph!”
Jin Zhuliu’s icy snort rumbled like thunder as brandished his battle spear and ferociously attacked like a god of war.
Rumble~
The air wailed in the arena as the sky seemed to change color. These phenomena were caused by Jin Zhuliu.
There was no doubt that he was very powerful. His spear shone brilliantly, and his aura was mighty and fierce, making it feel as if he could slay any gods or buddhas in his path. It was to be expected of the ninth ranker of the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings.
Numerous students were stunned by his power.
Chi Cangmei’s, Hua Wuyou’s, and the others’ expressions turned serious. The strength Jin Zhuliu displayed did not lose to any elite heaven pride.
This was especially so in battle because Jin Zhuliu’s unmatched bravery allowed him to display overwhelming combat power. In fact, he was not the least bit inferior even when compared to the likes of the Marquis of Rising Sky, Zhao Jingyin.
“Kill.”
The only sound that could be heard in the arena was Jin Zhuliu’s murderous roar. It boomed across the nine heavens like thunder, his black hair wildly dancing around him, as his spear thrust with deadly force. A murderous qi unfurled across the area, drawing numerous gasps from the crowd.
In contrast, Lin Xun appeared dull and ordinary. He was brutally suppressed and was nearly knocked out of the arena several times. It was clear that his defeat was imminent.
Numerous people had arrived at some unknown time such as the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings third-ranked Zuo Yujing, the most royal disciple, Zhao Jinwen…
There was also no lack of students from other departments such as the Rune Department, Godly Stratagems Department, Hidden Dragon Department… In fact, even several instructors had been drawn over to watch the fight.
Ning Meng, Shi Yu, Ye Xiaoqi, Gong Ming…and Lin Xun’s other old friends, who were currently cultivating in the Hidden Dragon Department, had also rushed over.
They were rather bewildered to find that Lin Xun was fighting in the Dao Martial Department. They had originally believed he was still in secluded cultivation in Mind Cleansing Peak and had not expected that he had not only exited his seclusion but had also stirred up such a commotion in Qinglu Academy.
“Something is amiss.”
Ye Xiaoqi’s eyes widened.
“Heh heh heh heh.”
Upon hearing this, Shi Yu and Ning Meng could not help but laugh as they displayed strange and mysterious smiles.
“What’s wrong with you guys? Can’t you see that Lin Xun is being suppressed and is going to be defeated soon?!”
Ye Xiaoqi glared at them.
“Sigh, you don’t understand Lin Xun at all. He might seem completely harmless, but he’s more evil and devious than anyone else.”
Ning Meng patted Ye Xiaoqi’s shoulder as if he had already seen this play out countless times before.
Shi Yu unhurriedly said, “Jin Zhuliu is going to suffer soon.”
Ye Xiaoqi was taken aback. He knew something was up but could not figure out what it was.
Gong Ming, who had been silent since the beginning, remarked, “It does seem that he’s pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger.”
Ye Xiaoqi was just about to say something when an uproar rose around them.
In the arena, Lin Xun’s fist smashed into Jin Zhuliu’s shoulder, sending him flying.
No one had seen what had happened. Lin Xun had clearly been dodging and had been about to lose a split second earlier, but then Jin Zhuliu was suddenly forced back!
Everyone was confused. Something just didn’t add up.
The corners of Ye Xiaoqi’s mouth violently twitched. He finally understood that Lin Xun had been putting up an act!
“Kill!”
Jin Zhuliu loudly shouted. He was also confused and dazed due to Lin Xun’s punch and had not expected him to still be capable of counterattacking.
However, Lin Xun flickered forward like a phantom, avoiding several attacks before sending a vicious kick at Jin Zhuliu’s abdomen.
Lin Xun’s speed was too quick. The crowd was unable to keep up and only managed to catch Jin Zhuliu screaming in pain before he doubled over and fell face-first onto the ground.
This…
Everyone was stupefied. Jin Zhuliu had been so valiant and domineering just moments ago. Why was he suddenly unable to suppress Lin Xun?
“The revenge begins.”
By now, Chi Cangmei and Hua Wuyou could tell that even Jin Zhuliu was no match for Lin Xun.
Both of them were astonished. Lin Xun had vanished from the public eye for two months, and he seemed to have become even stronger after emerging. They found themselves unable to gauge how strong he had become.
“Die!”
Jin Zhuliu clearly still refused to believe what was happening. His face was white with rage, and his hair messily scattered around him as he swung his spear. His body gave off a resplendent glow as a terrifying pressure pulsed from him.
“Heh heh.”
Lin Xun’s smile was equally dazzling, but became filled with provocation and ridicule when it entered Jin Zhuliu’s eyes.
To the audience, Lin Xun’s smile also felt very offensive and akin to the smile of a smug, petty clown!
Piak!
Jin Zhuliu soon received a slap on his head, leaving a blood-red handprint on his forehead. The crowd was shocked and began to realize that something was wrong.
Lin Xun remarked, “What a hard head you have. Can’t believe it wasn’t smashed to a pulp.”
“You’re courting death!”
Jin Zhuliu could no longer maintain his composure. His eyes turned bloodshot, and his face white with fury as he unleashed a thunderous roar and madly charged again.
Rumble~
In the arena, space distorted as light surged through the air. The blinding light was so harsh that no one dared to look directly.
“You’re no good. How about you admit defeat now? I still have to spar with others later and can’t waste too much time on you.”
As Lin Xun’s voice rang out, a punch viciously smashed into Jin Zhuliu’s face. His nose and mouth bled and several of his teeth were knocked loose, causing him to scream in agony.
Everyone could almost feel his pain and panic. What a vicious punch!
Some of the sharper individuals had already realized that Lin Xun had been acting weak earlier!
“I’ll kill you!”
With a roar, Jin Zhuliu charged once again.
His hair was in a mess, and his face was swollen and red like a pig. It was a miserable look with no trace of his earlier elegance. Instead, he resembled an enraged beast that was driven by rage and instinct.
Under the crowd’s watching gazes, Jin Zhuliu was first sent flying by a punch before receiving a stomp to the stomach and then another slap to the head. By this time, even his face had nearly caved in. How could he possibly endure such brutality?
Worst of all, Lin Xun maintained the same bright smile from start to end and never relented on the taunting, making it impossible for Jin Zhuliu to keep his cool.
“He’s doing it on purpose!”
“He must have been acting weak against Shi Yunpeng and Xue Yun earlier and was tricking everyone from the start!”
By this time, even the slowest person had realized what was happening. Their expressions became an interesting mix of bewilderment, sullenness, anger, hatred, and shock.
The truth was very difficult for them to accept. They had originally believed that even if Lin Xun was a dragon, he would have to behave in the Dao Martial Department. None of them would ever have imagined that he had never once used his true power since the beginning!
The most infuriating part was that they had only realized this now.
It was too much!
“You already knew?”
Lady Xianxian had an unhappy look on her face.
“How can someone who can beat the Marquis of Rising Sky be a simple individual?”
Hua Wuyou was expressionless.
Ning Meng, Shi Yu, Ye Xiaoqi, Gong Ming, and the others were openly laughing. As they had expected, Lin Xun had trapped yet another fool.
Boom!
An earth-shaking collision occurred in the arena. When the dust cleared, Jin Zhuliu was found pressed to the ground with a foot on his body, making it impossible for him to get up.
The foot naturally belonged to Lin Xun.
The crowd went completely silent. Numerous people were stunned, unable to believe their eyes.
Compared to Shi Yunpeng and Xue Yun, Jin Zhuliu had lost far more miserably. It was a difficult scene for the crowd to swallow.
That was the ninth ranker on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings. How had he been subdued so easily?
They could not accept this outcome.
No one’s expression was more entertaining than Lan Yu’s. He had nearly coughed blood in frustration from being insulted by Lin Xun and had been denied the chance of fighting him several times, making him feel even worse.
Lan Yu was originally worried that Lin Xun would lose to Jin Zhuliu, leaving him with no outlet for his anger. After seeing the end of their fight, however, his face had turned rigid as his expression turned grim and uncertain.
He was no fool and could naturally tell that Lin Xun had not once used his true power! Moreover, Jin Zhuliu’s miserable defeat scared him.
How is this hateful bastard so strong?
Lan Yu wasn’t the only one. Everyone present could not comprehend this either.
“Sigh, three wins in a row.”
Lin Xun sighed as he kicked Jin Zhuliu off the arena. He crashed to the ground and fell unconscious.
Lin Xun had used his true power to seriously injure Jin Zhuliu. It would not be easy for him to recover.
There wasn’t much choice since killing was forbidden in Qinglu Academy. Otherwise, Lin Xun would not have minded taking Jin Zhuliu’s life.
Jin Zhuliu has lost!
The crowd finally realized Lin Xun’s strength. Although they heard his sigh, they did not feel as angry as before, though their expressions were still very ugly.
Arrogant!
It was absolute arrogance that viewed all of them as insignificant!
How hateful!
Lin Xun gaze slowly looked around as he unhurriedly asked, “Anyone else?”