While the high-ranking members were all stunned by Lin Xuan, their expressions shifting in various ways, no one noticed that the white-robed middle-aged man, whom even Patriarch Lin Qixing feared, had quietly left at some point.
On the arena.
Referee Li He stared at Lin Xuan, frozen in place for a long time, unable to snap out of it.
He had originally thought that in this match, Lin Xuan would lose, likely be defeated instantly, and suffer serious injuries.
But beyond his expectations, after the two clashed once, Lin Xuan not only didn't lose but held his ground.
Even more, after a series of fierce battles, he, at the seventh layer of Body Tempering, managed to defeat Lin Yun, who was at the peak of the ninth layer of Body Tempering.
This set a new record for the Lin family.
It shattered his imagination.
It truly left him in awe.
Now, he barely managed to regain his composure, but the shock in his heart hadn't diminished in the slightest.
With a complex gaze at Lin Xuan, he announced loudly:
"This challenge, Lin Xuan wins."
At that moment, Lin Xuan was staring at the attribute panel floating in the void before him.
On the attribute panel, the total energy points had exceeded fifty thousand.
This filled Lin Xuan with delight.
Such gains had surpassed his expectations.
Not to mention that after today, when the observing martial artists from various forces returned and spread the events of the Lin family's strength inspection throughout Qingyu City, causing a stir, it would bring him a massive influx of energy points.
Enough, he believed, to replicate all the Lin family's high-ranking members.
Just then, Li He's voice rang out.
Lin Xuan snapped back to reality, dismissed the attribute panel, nodded at Li He, and walked off the arena with a calm smile.
Since even the former top genius Lin Yun had been defeated by him, there was no need to stay on the arena any longer.
Now, he just had to wait to reap the rewards.
As Li He's words fell, another wave of uproar swept through the crowd.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Lin Xuan, filled with disbelief, astonishment, envy, reverence, and other emotions.
From today onward, Lin Xuan would replace Lin Yun as the new top genius of the Lin family and one of the four great geniuses of Qingyu City.
That alone warranted their respect.
Wherever Lin Xuan passed, the crowd actively stepped aside, clearing a wide path.
It was the same treatment Lin Yun had once received.
With a smile, Lin Xuan returned to Lin Shiyun's side:
"Shiyun, I told you, I'm fine."
Lin Xuan took Lin Shiyun's jade-like hand and said softly.
"Mm."
Lin Shiyun replied with a gentle smile:
"Lin Xuan, when did you become so strong? I had no idea."
"Sorry for keeping it from you for so long."
Lin Xuan pulled Lin Shiyun into his arms and whispered:
"Consider it a surprise from me, okay?"
"Okay, okay."
Lin Shiyun nestled against Lin Xuan, immediately forgetting to press further.
Indeed, women in love have zero IQ.
Lin Xuan thought to himself.
At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief; he hadn't figured out how to explain this aspect yet.
As for the system, it would remain his greatest secret, just like his identity as a time traveler.
He would never tell anyone.
No one at all.
With the referee's announcement, Lin Yun was carried off for treatment.
The challenges continued.
However, after Lin Xuan's streak of three consecutive battles, each more impressive than the last, culminating in toppling even Lin Yun to become the new top genius of the Lin family, the subsequent challenges seemed dull and lackluster in comparison. Most people's attention remained fixed on Lin Xuan, still lost in shock.
Lin Xuan chatted and laughed with Lin Shiyun, showing no outward signs of anything unusual.
But deep in his eyes, a hint of seriousness lingered.
Swish!
"Name: Lin Shiyun."
"Cultivation: Eighth Layer of Body Tempering."
"Talent: High-grade cultivation talent, Low-grade strength talent, Low-grade speed talent."
"Special Constitution: Spirit Charm Constitution (Unawakened)."
"Martial Arts: Surging Wave Palm (Second-grade High-tier, Minor Success), Winding Flower Hand (Second-grade Mid-tier, Minor Success), Spirit Snake Step (Second-grade Low-tier, Minor Success)..."
"Carried Treasures: ..."
Looking at Lin Shiyun's attribute panel, Lin Xuan was startled.
He hadn't expected Lin Shiyun's talent to be no less than Lin Yun's.
The martial arts she practiced were even of a higher grade.
It was likely that Lin Shiyun's strength was on par with, if not greater than, Lin Yun's.
It was just that Lin Shiyun rarely fought, so her true strength wasn't apparent.
Lin Xuan hadn't realized that his fiancée had been hiding quite a bit.
If he hadn't obtained the golden finger to see others' attribute panels, he might never have known.
But what truly shook Lin Xuan was that Lin Shiyun possessed a legendary special constitution—the Spirit Charm Constitution.
Though he didn't know what the Spirit Charm Constitution was, he understood something about special constitutions.
A special constitution was like being favored by the heavens, with innate exceptional aptitude. Cultivation and breaking through realms were as easy as eating and drinking.
Rumor had it that even the worst special constitution far surpassed top-grade talent.
Lin Xuan hadn't anticipated that Lin Shiyun would have a special constitution.
Having a special constitution meant Lin Shiyun's future would be extraordinary.
A sense of urgency crept into Lin Xuan's heart.
To be worthy of this fiancée, he would have to train hard.
Otherwise, if Lin Shiyun left him far behind, even if she didn't mind, he himself couldn't bear it.
At the same time, a foreboding feeling stirred within Lin Xuan.
Lin Shiyun, of course, noticed nothing unusual.
But deep in her beautiful eyes, there was also a lingering trace of worry.
Soon, Lin Xuan shook off these feelings.
He was a man with a golden finger—how could he fear being outdone by a special constitution?
Lin Xuan regained his composure.
"Right, the golden finger."
Lin Xuan's eyes lit up. He could try to see if he could replicate Lin Shiyun's special constitution.
If it worked, he'd hit the jackpot.
No time like the present.
Immediately, Lin Xuan focused his mind:
"Ding, consumed 3000 energy points, replication successful. Obtained [High-grade Cultivation Talent]."
"Ding, consumed 500 energy points, replication successful. Obtained [Surging Wave Palm (Second-grade High-tier, Minor Success)]."
"..."
"Ding, replication failed!"
Soon, the replication was complete.
Lin Xuan's expression turned serious.
Replication usually succeeded; failure meant the treasure's grade exceeded what his current energy points could replicate.
Could this special constitution be that high-grade?
Then, Lin Xuan tried again, spending more energy points.
This time, it still failed.
"It seems that even if this special constitution isn't awakened, its grade is extremely high."
Lin Xuan temporarily gave up.
The remaining points might be better spent on the Lin family's high-ranking members—he couldn't waste them like this.
Afterward, Lin Xuan chose to use the treasures he had just obtained.