The words fell, and the arena instantly fell silent. All eyes converged on the stage, eagerly anticipating the upcoming battle.
On the stage. Lin Xuan’s gaze swept over Zhang Kuishan.
*Shua!*
“Name: Zhang Kuishan.” “Cultivation: Peak Condensation Vortex Realm.” “Talents: Spirit-grade cultivation talent, Supreme-grade strength talent, High-grade speed talent, Peak-grade thick earth attribute talent, High-grade heavy water attribute talent, High-grade green wood attribute talent, High-grade sharp metal attribute talent.” “Martial Arts: Rock Yuan Heavy Mountain Art (Sixth-grade lower tier, Minor Completion), Mountain-Crushing Palm (Sixth-grade lower tier, Major Completion), Limitless Quaking Mountain Fist (Sixth-grade lower tier, Major Completion), Spirit Cloud Step (Sixth-grade lower tier, Minor Completion)... Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art (Unknown, Incomplete, Not Yet Started)...” “Intent: 20% Earth Intent.” “Personal Treasures: A pair of Black Gold Gauntlets (Sixth-grade lower tier spirit artifact).”
Gazing at the attribute panel of Zhang Kuishan floating in the void before him, Lin Xuan’s eyes flickered.
“It really is the *Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art*! It seems my guess was right!”
He had previously reviewed the introduction on the Strong List’s roster of disciples and taken note. There was a special annotation on it.
Zhang Kuishan, ranked second on the Strong List, with a burly physique like a violent bear. His strength was immense, nearly inexhaustible. His iron fists had defeated the entire inner sect; even Chen Yu, the top-ranked on the Strong List, dared not clash head-on with his power. He could only use the sharpness of his blade arts to force Zhang Kuishan back. This showed just how formidable his strength was.
And the *Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art* in his possession was precisely the kind of art that could grant a cultivator surging, boundless, terrifying power. It matched perfectly.
Although there were many body-tempering martial arts that could enhance physical strength, among the arts he knew of, only the *Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art* could achieve such an effect.
Lin Xuan had specifically paid attention to this. Challenging Zhang Kuishan was merely to verify his guess. Even if he hadn’t challenged him, he would have found a way to get close to Zhang Kuishan and check his attribute panel.
Now it seemed that Zhang Kuishan had indeed cultivated the *Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art*. So, his guess was correct.
That day at the Martial Arts Pavilion, the old man at the peak of the Opening Spirit Realm, Wang Xufeng, had indeed been deliberately spreading the *Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art*. He was using some talented disciples as test subjects, observing them in secret, seeking a breakthrough method.
However, Lin Xuan could only keep an eye on this from the shadows for now; he couldn’t get involved yet—his strength wasn’t sufficient. Moreover, since the *Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art* could grant him formidable physical strength and was harmless in itself, he wasn’t too bothered by it.
Now, it was time for his battle with Zhang Kuishan. Both had cultivated the *Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art*—let’s see whose strength was greater.
A glint of anticipation flickered in Lin Xuan’s eyes. It had been a long time since he had truly unleashed his power. This opponent, Zhang Kuishan, who had also cultivated the *Golden Scale Brutal Elephant Art*, might just be the perfect test.
But before that, he should first copy over a few of Zhang Kuishan’s high-quality treasures.
With a thought.
*Ding! Consumed 100,000 energy points. Copy successful. Obtained [Spirit-grade cultivation talent].* *Ding! Consumed 30,000 energy points. Copy successful. Obtained [Supreme-grade strength talent].* *Ding! Consumed 30,000 energy points. Copy successful. Obtained [A pair of Black Gold Gauntlets (Sixth-grade lower tier spirit artifact)].*
Zhang Kuishan had many treasures, and their grades were not low. But unfortunately, after Lin Xuan had visited the Alchemist Guild and copied the guild leader’s treasures, his standards had risen significantly. Now, he only found these three items worth copying.
In an instant, he copied them over.
Among them, whenever he encountered spirit artifacts and had sufficient energy points, he would copy them for future use. Even if he didn’t use them, selling them would yield a decent amount of spirit stones—a small profit.
As for the other two items, he chose to use them immediately.
A warm current flowed through him.
*Ding! Congratulations, host’s cultivation talent has improved!* *Ding! Congratulations, host’s strength talent has improved!*
They were instantly absorbed and integrated. Lin Xuan felt a slight increase in his talent, potential, and strength. He nodded faintly, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
All of this happened in an instant, unnoticed by anyone on the stage.
Then, Lin Xuan calmly looked at Zhang Kuishan, waiting for the upcoming duel.
For this match, he still planned to follow his usual approach—not instantly defeating his opponent. Instead, he would let the opponent strike first, then counter and crush them. He would force the opponent to use their full strength before easily overpowering them.
This way, he could cause the greatest stir. And naturally, he would harvest the most energy points.
It was Lin Xuan’s consistent method.
On the other side, Zhang Kuishan looked at Lin Xuan with a somewhat serious expression. He remembered the aura Lin Xuan had emitted when he arrived—it was no weaker than his own, if not stronger. Although aura alone didn’t determine a martial artist’s true strength, it still proved Lin Xuan’s extraordinary nature.
Moreover, since Lin Xuan had taken the initiative to challenge him, he must have some confidence. Zhang Kuishan dared not underestimate his opponent.
He spoke coldly, his voice deep: “Junior Brother Lin, though you’ve only been in the sect for less than two months, your reputation has already spread throughout the entire sect. You’re hailed as the sect’s number one genius. Now, let me weigh whether this number one genius truly lives up to the name!”
“Then let’s give it a try!” Lin Xuan replied coolly, without any courtesy.
With those words, the two stopped wasting their breath.
Zhang Kuishan made his move. He stomped the ground and charged toward Lin Xuan like a battering ram. Wherever he passed, a piercing sound of air bursting erupted.
This showed the sheer force of his strength—he had instantly crushed a large swath of air, causing it to explode.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Kuishan was in front of Lin Xuan, throwing a heavy punch aimed at Lin Xuan’s chest. The punch tore through layers of space, carrying a sharp, resounding boom.
Like a violent bear, a massive black bear paw slammed toward Lin Xuan, its power overwhelming and unstoppable.
Although this punch used no martial arts, true qi, or intent, relying solely on raw physical strength, it was already terrifyingly powerful. Even most cultivators at the peak of the Condensation Vortex Realm would be blasted apart and killed by such a punch!
On the other side, Lin Xuan remained calm. He also threw a punch to meet it.
Similarly, Lin Xuan’s punch used no martial arts, true qi, or intent. It relied only on physical strength.
But compared to Zhang Kuishan’s, Lin Xuan’s punch carried no momentum, moved slowly, and seemed soft and weak, as if it had little power at all.
Watching this scene, the spectators on the field were stunned, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Were they seeing this right? Lin Xuan had chosen to clash head-on with Zhang Kuishan using pure strength?
Everyone knew that Senior Brother Zhang Kuishan had the nickname “Violent Bear.” His physical strength was unmatched within the inner sect. Even Chen Yu, the top-ranked on the Strong List, dared not challenge his power head-on. That terrifying strength could kill opponents of the same cultivation level with a single punch—it was completely beyond what a Condensation Vortex Realm cultivator should possess.