"Kid, you're done for!"
*Bam!*
...
"Lin Xuan, you're a new disciple—don't get too cocky!"
*Bam!*
...
After that, five or six inner disciples, furious and unwilling to accept it, stepped onto the arena to challenge him.
Among them were all at the late stage of Qi Transformation, ranging from the seventh to the ninth layer.
But no matter their cultivation level, facing Lin Xuan, there was only one outcome.
They were all sent flying off the arena with a single punch from Lin Xuan, instantly defeated.
Whether they dodged or attacked, none could withstand that seemingly artless, unadorned punch of his.
This punch didn't even appear to use any martial technique.
It carried no imposing force, as if even its power was soft and weak.
Yet, such a punch was something five or six late-stage Qi Transformation cultivators couldn't resist.
It seemed utterly bizarre.
The arena fell into silence once more.
Everyone stared at Lin Xuan on the platform, their expressions shocked and incredulous.
Though they didn't know what martial technique Lin Xuan was using, the fact that he had instantly defeated six late-stage Qi Transformation cultivators, including one at the ninth layer, was an undeniable truth unfolding before their eyes.
If the first one could be chalked up to chance, then six in a row, all defeated instantly by Lin Xuan, left no room for excuses.
There was only one reason: Lin Xuan's strength had already surpassed the late stage of Qi Transformation, far beyond it.
And all this happened just over a month after Lin Xuan had joined the sect.
Back then, he was only at the early stage of Opening Aperture.
It was clear just how terrifying Lin Xuan's talent was!
Everyone was deeply shaken.
Though it was frustrating, they had to admit that this new disciple, Lin Xuan, truly had the right to look down on them, the senior disciples.
Not to mention anything else, this battle record alone was proof enough.
They no longer dared to mock or underestimate Lin Xuan.
In the crowd, Chen Yuze sighed inwardly:
"Lin Xuan, you've exceeded my expectations again!"
He couldn't help but feel awed by Lin Xuan once more.
On the arena.
Lin Xuan, however, was unfazed, a faint smile in his eyes.
He glanced at the virtual attribute panel before him and nodded slightly.
This time, he had gained a large amount of energy points.
Plus, there was the bet of ten thousand contribution points.
Once he returned, he could train for a while again.
But it was a pity—it was still too little.
The further one progressed in martial arts, the harder it became.
Those ten thousand contribution points, if all exchanged, would only yield a little over a thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Not even enough for him to break through a few realms.
No, he needed to earn more.
With that, Lin Xuan swept his gaze across the entire crowd.
Wherever his eyes passed, almost everyone instinctively lowered their heads or looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.
However, there were still a few at the peak of Qi Transformation who stood their ground, meeting his eyes without flinching.
But Lin Xuan waited on the arena for a while longer, and none of them made a move to challenge him.
Lin Xuan pondered for a moment, noticing that these few were shifting their gazes and standing still, and soon understood.
It was because of his current situation.
He was in an awkward position.
He had shown himself to be too strong, and even these peak Qi Transformation cultivators had no confidence in defeating him.
And he was still just a new disciple.
If these few stepped onto the arena, winning would be expected, but losing would be a huge loss of face.
This was clearly a losing bet, and since they weren't fools, they naturally wouldn't do it.
As for his earlier words, they had insulted the entire group of senior inner disciples.
But when spread out among individuals, as long as they weathered the storm and pretended not to hear, it would blow over.
After all, he was targeting the group, not individuals.
Individuals could hide within the group and avoid harm.
"Who would've thought, who would've thought."
Lin Xuan shook his head and sighed.
He had ended up in this situation.
But it wasn't unbreakable.
Lin Xuan then spoke loudly:
"It seems you senior inner disciples are just old in status, but useless otherwise.
You can't even put down a new disciple like me.
Tsk!
This generation of the sect is hopeless!"
This time, his words were even more direct and pointed.
Hearing this, the disciples were all seething with anger, clenching their fists and grinding their teeth.
But Lin Xuan wasn't done. He continued:
"What? Am I wrong? You still don't accept it?
Then come and try!
I'm waiting for you here!
If you've got the guts, step onto the arena and fight me, teach me a lesson, and shut me up!"
His provocation grew even sharper.
It only fueled the senior disciples' anger.
But not a single one stepped forward. They just stood there, gnashing their teeth.
Let alone stepping onto the arena.
Because the six late-stage Qi Transformation disciples before them had already set a bloody example.
None of them were a match for Lin Xuan.
Going up would only result in defeat and even more humiliation.
"Need to stoke the fire a bit more."
Lin Xuan thought to himself.
Then he spoke again:
"No guts?
Can't even face a new disciple like me?
Shen Anran, Zhou Zhe, Chen Huawen... you peak Qi Transformation cultivators don't dare either?
What a waste!
You might as well go back to farming!"
This time, he added a cold laugh, making the provocation even stronger.
On the field, Shen Anran, Zhou Zhe, and the other peak Qi Transformation cultivators all had expressions of extreme displeasure.
They hadn't expected Lin Xuan to be so ruthless, calling them out by name.
Their plan to hide in the crowd, turn a deaf ear, and act like ordinary inner disciples had been shattered.
Now, they couldn't avoid it even if they wanted to.
They had to go up whether they liked it or not.
Sure enough, as Lin Xuan's words fell, all the disciples on the field turned their gazes to them.
"Senior Brother Shen, we're counting on you!"
"Senior Brother Zhou, hurry up and go suppress this guy's arrogance!"
"Senior Brother Chen, we senior disciples haven't been this humiliated in a long time. You have to win back our honor. Otherwise, how will we face the new disciples in the future!"
"..."
The surrounding disciples all urged them on.
Using various reasons, they tried to push Shen Anran, Zhou Zhe, and the others onto the arena.
Lin Xuan's contemptuous words had made them furious.
But since they lacked the strength, they had to endure it in frustration.
Now that Lin Xuan had pointed out Shen Anran, Zhou Zhe, and others with potential, they naturally wanted to do everything to get them up there.
If they won, it would vent their anger.
If they lost, they wouldn't suffer any loss.
After all, they weren't the ones stepping onto the arena, so they were happy to push for it.
Thus, this scene unfolded.
"Damn it!"
Shen Anran, Zhou Zhe, and the others glared at Lin Xuan, their anger surging. They hadn't expected to be dragged into this by him.
Though this was an obvious provocation, a clear scheme.
Anyone with eyes could see through it.
But they couldn't avoid it; they had to accept and step onto the arena.
Otherwise, the next target of all the inner disciples' resentment wouldn't be Lin Xuan, but them.
Because while they couldn't deal with Lin Xuan, they were more than capable of blaming them without any burden.
That was the brilliance of Lin Xuan's move.