《Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor》 Chapter 1 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The blazing sun rose high in the early morning, casting its light upon the vast lands below. In a verdant and dense mountain forest, the sun was slightly dimmed, and the air was tinged with coolness. Swish! Swish! Swish! In the thick forest, a young figure dressed in blue was running. His steps were steady and his body was like a monkey¡¯s, extremely flexible. ¡°Bang!¡± Suddenly, the young man¡¯s figure stopped. He clapped his palm at an old tree in front of him. ¡°Roar!¡± From his palm, a faint sound like a dragon¡¯s groan seemed to ring out. ¡°Bang!¡± The next moment, the young man¡¯s palm hit the thick tree trunk. The two collided, and a loud cry immediately sounded. Rustle! Many leaves fell from the ancient tree as it shook. A distinct palm print was left on the old bark. The young man looked and saw that only a shallow handprint was left. His delicate face could not help but grow bitter. ¡°This Moving Dragon Palm is the lowest level of low-grade martial arts, but even after cultivating for three whole months, I still can¡¯t gain insight regarding its essence.¡± ¡°My aptitude is really such rubbish. It¡¯s been a year since I came to the Lin Clan Sect Residence as a main division disciple, but my martial arts is still at the first tier. I haven¡¯t made any progress at all. It¡¯s no wonder I can¡¯t understand martial arts. ¡°But I¡¯ve worked so hard to enter the main division from the subdivision. Do I really have no way of fighting back against the humiliation and the snide looks from the main division disciples have been giving me this past year?¡± 1 The young man clenched his fists. His eyes shone brightly with a hint of unwillingness, but also with a hint of helplessness. The young man in blue was called Lin Han. He was originally a subdivision disciple from the influential Lin Clan Sect Residence not far from the mountain range. However, because of an opportunity that arose, Lin Han and his childhood friend Lin Meier came to the main division, where the Lin Clan was the most powerful. Lin Han had thought that if he came to the main division of the Lin Clan Sect Residence, he would achieve great success and become an admirable powerful warrior that stood over others. However, reality was cruel. It had been a year since he came to the main division of the Lin Clan Sect Residence. A whole year! Lin Han was unable to break through the most basic first tier of martial arts. Moreover, his insight towards martial arts was extremely poor. He was indeed the ¡®trash heap¡¯ and ¡¯embodiment of mediocrity¡¯ that the other main division disciples called him. Lin Han had been depressed for half a year prior to this. However, six months ago, Lin Han found out that his childhood friend, Lin Meier, who he used to be extremely close with, had suddenly started to alienate him and mingled with a certain genius disciple from the main division. 2 Since then, every time Lin Meier saw him, her eyes would be full of disdain and disgust. For some reason, it gave birth to a deep feeling of unwillingness in Lin Han¡¯s heart. 5 So, he pulled himself out of his depression. He wanted to prove himself worthy by cultivating hard. However, even after half a year, he had not made any progress with his martial arts cultivation. It was as if he was stuck in the first tier. It made Lin Han¡¯s heart fall into despair. Despite that, he insisted on training his mind and body in the mountains every day, fighting with wild beasts. What Lin Han wanted was to break through his cultivation and stop being mediocre. Otherwise, he would always be the lowly subdivision trash heap in the eyes of those main division disciples. Throughout the morning, Lin Han cultivated in the mountains, hunting and tempering his physique. At noon, Lin Han returned from the mountains to Broken Sky City. Lin Han did not look at the bustling streets of the town and walked directly into the Lin Clan Sect Residence instead. Over the past few days, he practiced in the mountains. He hunted many wild beasts and obtained many pelts, which he should be able to sell for a good price. However, the moment Lin Han entered the Lin Clan Sect Residence. 1 ¡°Oh, if it isn¡¯t the trash of our Lin Clan subdivision?¡± ¡°What, did you go to the mountains to train again? Haha, you¡¯re just a lowly subdivision disciple with mediocre qualifications. No matter how hard you try, you¡¯ll always be trash!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, subdivision trash, I think you should just learn your place and get out of our Lin Clan Sect Residence. Other clans would laugh if they knew that our Lin Clan has such a disgrace among its ranks. It¡¯s really humiliating.¡± Suddenly, jeers filled with sarcasm rang out. 2 Lin Han¡¯s gaze darkened as he looked forward. Not far away from the practice hall was a group of young men and women dressed in grand clothes and haughty auras. Their expressions were aloof and prideful; they were the main division disciples. These main division disciples had a natural sense of superiority and were extremely arrogant in front of Lin Han, who was a subdivision disciple. Among these main division disciples was a young man in white with incomparably malicious eyes. He suddenly took a step and stood in front of Lin Han. ¡°What do you want, Lin Shi?¡± Lin Han¡¯s expression was twisted. Among the main division disciples, Lin Shi was the one who loved to bully and suppress him the most. Perhaps it was because Lin Shi was not highly gifted and had a low status among the main division disciples ¡ª he could only vent the rage in his heart by bullying Lin Han, a subdivision disciple. Lin Shi folded his hands behind his back and looked down on Lin Han. ¡°Lin Han, give me the pelts of all the wild animals you killed today, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± 3 ¡°You¡­!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes flashed furiously. He gripped the large bundle on his back and said icily, ¡°I¡¯ve been collecting these pelts for half a month. I can¡¯t give them to you.¡± 1 ¡°You can¡¯t? You, measly piece of trash from the subdivision, dare to say no to me? Impudent!¡± Lin Shi¡¯s eyes immediately darkened. He strode to Lin Han as his powerful energy poured out from his body like a mountain pressing on Lin Han. ¡®Although Lin Shi is the weakest of the main division disciples and only at the second tier, he has all sorts of powerful martial arts that only main division disciples can enjoy. Meanwhile, I¡¯m only at the first tier, and I only have the low-grade Moving Dragon Palm. I¡¯m no match for him!¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s gaze grew heavy. He knew that the current him was no match for Lin Shi. ¡°Bang!¡± Sure enough, before Lin Han could react, Lin Shi¡¯s palm lightly flew over and landed on Lin Han¡¯s chest. Lin Han instantly spit out a mouthful of blood and was blown straight out of the Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°Someone with the worth of a mere dog dares to defy me?¡± Lin Shi sneered and walked up to Lin Han, full of contempt. ¡°Did you really think I wanted that worthless bag of sh*t pelts in your bag? I only wanted to bully you a little because that makes me happy, hahaha¡­¡± ¡°You can do whatever you want, is that what you think?¡± Lin Han was drenched with blood. His voice was incomparably cold. ¡°Too bad, having strength means being able to do whatever you like.¡± Lin Shi looked at Lin Han who was lying on the ground like a dead dog and narrowed his eyes in derisive pleasure. The corners of his mouth pulled up mockingly as he spoke. Chapter 2 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Lin Shi, I¡¯ll duel you in three days.¡± 2 Lin Han stood up and his bloodshot eyes stared at Lin Shi coldly. He had been bullied by Lin Shi for a long time and no longer wanted to endure it silently. He spat out, ¡°To the death, either you die, or I do!¡± ¡°Fool.¡± Lin Shi did not expect that Lin Han would dare to speak so fiercely at him. His gaze darkened as he laughed coldly. ¡°Good. Very good! In three days, I¡¯ll let everyone see how I cripple a piece of trash like you.¡± Lin Shi stared mercilessly at Lin Han and walked away. Lin Han also turned and walked towards the Lin Clan Sect Residence. Along the way, he mulled over the declaration he said in the spur of the moment, suddenly feeling some regret in his heart. ¡®How am I supposed to fight Lin Shi in three days?¡¯ Then, Lin Han thought of the humiliation and stares he got over the past year. He had been high-spirited when he came to the Lin Clan Sect Residence from the subdivision. 1 He never thought that in the end, he would not be able to stand up against the weakest disciple in the main division, Lin Shi. It was a truly humiliating fact. ¡°Am I¡­ Really a born loser destined to live the rest of my life like a lowly worm?¡± Lin Han looked upwards. Against his will, angry tears flowed down from his eyes. He growled at the sky, ¡°Heaven has no eyes! Heaven has no eyes¡­¡± 4 He loathed, from the bottom of his heart. He hated that he was born mediocre, hated that he suffered humiliation, hated that no matter how hard he tried, he did not get any semblance of a foothold, hated how he could not resist even the weakest enemy¡­ 4 ¡°Kr-rrack!¡± Suddenly, a flash of golden lightning crashed down from the sky and struck the top of his head. 3 ¡°Wha!?¡± Lin Han¡¯s expression changed. As the golden light bathed him, all he felt was a roar in his head. ¡®What¡­ What is this?¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s thoughts moved, and he suddenly sunk into his mind. There, in the dark space, a golden flame flickered to life. Yes, it was a golden flame! ¡°F*ck, how can a flame appear in a person¡¯s mind?¡± Lin Han was shocked, but at the next moment, he sensed that the quietly burning golden flame really did exist in his mind. 1 ¡°Was that the golden divine light that entered my body from that thundercloud earlier?¡± Lin Han had a tough will that was far ahead of his peers, and soon, he calmed down. He vaguely felt that the golden spirit fire in his mind would be his great fortune. Driven by curiosity, he extended his senses and slowly touched the mysterious golden flame in his mind. Boom! At that moment, stars suddenly exploded around Lin Han. Time and space seemed to change, and his consciousness arrived at a vast and boundless landscape. The place looked like a strange land in a distant era, with towering creatures roaring, and thousands of colossal mountains covering the sky. Then, Lin Han saw a magnificent picture that he would never forget. In the boundless ancient land, a golden dragon rose from the endless abyss. It leaped thousands of feet and penetrated through the clouds to swim in the skies. Its terrifying might and power struck awe into Lin Han and almost caused his consciousness to crumble. 1 Suddenly, the golden dragon shone with divine light and transformed into an imposing figure. The figure wore a magnificent crown and wore an Emperor¡¯s garments. His black hair danced wildly, and his eyes shone like stars, peerlessly beautiful. His head reached the skies, and his feet stood on the earth proudly. Any creature in front of him was just like an ant, humble and insignificant. He, like the only god of this heaven and earth, was immortal. However, at this moment, the gigantic figure suddenly looked down towards Lin Han. Hum! Suddenly, Lin Han felt his body locked by a terrifying spiritual sense. Then, a gaze shone down on his body. In that gaze was endless knowledge, like the crystallization of eons of history. No vast earth, boundless sky, or endless cycle was comparable to the immemorial time and space in that gaze. ¡°Se¡­Sir¡­ Who¡­ Are you?¡± Although Lin Han was born in the subdivision, he liked to read ancient texts. He knew that in some legends, there were extraordinary powers and powerhouses in ancient times. Could it be that the gigantic figure in this world was a remnant of a supreme being? ¡°Who am I? I am¡­ the First Ancient Dragon Emperor, the almighty, the only supreme one to have touched the divine realm!¡± the figure suddenly spoke. 3 The voice held dignity and pride, but at the same time, it also held mockery. ¡°Sir, since you have already reached the divine realm, why¡­¡± Lin Han said slowly and carefully. ¡°Because in this world exists the most beautiful, yet the most malicious woman¡­¡± The figure¡¯s voice suddenly took on a murderous tone, one which held deep regret. 3 Hearing this, Lin Han suddenly felt a great wave of sadness. ¡°I¡¯ve suffered betrayal at the hands of the woman I loved the most but I escaped by traversing time and space. I arrived here, with the Spirit Fire intact and in my possession¡­ I will soon die, but regret weighs heavily in my heart. I seek vengeance, vengeance for that wretched woman to meet an end worthy of her wickedness¡­¡± 5 The figure suddenly looked down at Lin Han from the sky and said fiercely, ¡°You, boy. I felt the yearning in your heart as well as your desire for great power. Very well! You shall inherit my inextinguishable Spirit Fire, and exact my revenge on my behalf! Return to the Ancient Land, and kill that woman!¡± 4 The figure suddenly roared. His voice was bitter and full of monstrous anger. ¡°Which woman?¡± Lin Han immediately shouted. ¡°She¡¯s called the Ice God. She¡¯s the world¡¯s most beautiful and ruthless woman. Her name is Lan Bingyan¡­¡± The gigantic figure gradually dispersed as if it was suffering from a great injury, and finally disappeared. At that time, Lin Han¡¯s consciousness returned to his body. ¡°Hum!¡± The next moment, Lin Han immediately felt the Golden Spirit Fire transmit to him a book of cultivation methods written in gold before it was engraved in his memory. ¡°Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor ¡ª Immemorial and boundless, the supreme Dragon Emperor, corporeal flesh turns to the divine, immortal and eternal¡­¡± 3 Lin Han chanted out loud. From the Golden Spirit Fire, he had obtained an unrivaled ancient cultivation method: the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. This was the boundless inheritance from the Ancient Dragon Emperor, the only cultivation method that could allow one to reach the supreme divine realm. ¡°Who would have thought that my fortune would change like this¡­¡± Lin Han was first shocked, but he was immediately filled with joy. A new gate opened in front of him. This warmed Lin Han¡¯s blood and made him want to roar aloud. However, the task that the Ancient Dragon Emperor entrusted to him before his death made Lin Han¡¯s heart quieten. Return to the Ancient Land and exact vengeance! ¡°Where is the Ancient Land? The Ice God, Lan Bingyan, to be able to earn the title of ¡®God¡¯, what kind of earth-shattering being is she?¡± 1 Lin Han thought in his heart. However, he would not forget his gratitude and his fortune in inheriting the Ancient Dragon Emperor¡¯s legacy. He vowed to himself, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sir. One day, I will make that ruthless woman who betrayed you regret her decisions!¡± 2 After composing himself, Lin Han looked at the sky. His body, as strong and healthy as a cheetah, brought him running towards Broken Sky City. Bang! Lin Han returned to the house and slammed the door. His heart was filled with excitement. He found that, before he could notice, he had broken through to the second tier. Furthermore, the Qi-blood and True Qi in his body had become more condensed, and his perception of his surroundings had become more sensitive. For example, in the room in which Lin Han was currently sitting in, he could clearly see the mosquito legs of a mosquito fifty meters away from him, as well as hear the buzz of a bee one hundred meters away. 2 Lin Han speculated that the burning Golden Spirit Fire in his mind had imperceptibly changed all of his abilities. ¡°Hahaha! Great!¡± After going through such a stark transformation, his cultivation had finally broken through to the second tier. Even the taciturn Lin Han could not help but laugh out loud. ¡°Young Master, it¡¯s time for dinner.¡± The door suddenly opened, and a pretty maid with bright white teeth entered while holding a wooden tray with several dishes on it. 2 Chapter 3 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Xiao Nu, a maid who followed Lin Han from Changyun Village, was also the only one who still remained close to Lin Han in his current state. 2 ¡°Haha, Xian Nu, let¡¯s eat together,¡± Lin Han immediately said. He was in a great mood. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯ve changed!¡± The young maid was secretly delighted when she saw Lin Han¡¯s smiling face. She was Lin Han¡¯s maid. If the Young Master Lin Han was happy, she was happy. It was that simple. The second day. Lin Han arrived at the combat arena in the Lin Clan Sect Residence compound and started to cultivate his Moving Dragon Palm. Pa pa pa! Bouts of noise rang out in the air. Lin Han¡¯s palms shot out as his blood soared, but his face did not flush and his breath remained calm. ¡°Oh! It¡¯s just the second day. Lin Han, are you that eager to die?¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded nearby, chock full of mockery. Lin Han frowned and looked over. In that direction, Lin Shi carried a dark smile full of aggression. His eyes were filled with ferocity. Lin Shi? Lin Han immediately recalled the duel they had agreed to yesterday. ¡®It seems that there¡¯s no escape today. ¡®In that case, let¡¯s just fight today!¡¯ 1 Lin Han immediately stopped what he was doing, and the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind burned quietly. It had subtly transformed and strengthened everything, including Lin Han¡¯s physical body as well as his spirit and will. At this moment, his eyes held no fear. His gaze met Lin Shi¡¯s cold one not that far away. ¡°Huh? Since when did this brat¡¯s eyes become so sharp? He¡¯s different from before.¡± Lin Shi instantly felt the changes in Lin Han. For an instant, there was a faint sense of danger in his heart. With this thought, Lin Shi¡¯s eyes towards Lin Han grew colder. His killing intent rose around him, like a ferocious beast picking its prey. ¡°How dare you show your killing intent towards me?¡± Lin Han¡¯s perception was currently superior as he saw a veiled killing intent in Lin Shi¡¯s eyes. ¡°Come, I¡¯ll beat you in one blow!¡± Lin Shi roared. As soon as he finished speaking. Boom! Lin Shi¡¯s burly body lunged toward Lin Han. He thrust his fist out and a shining light of energy appeared in the form of a fierce tiger. ¡°That¡¯s a medium-grade martial technique, the Vigorous Fierce Tiger Fist!¡± A startled cry suddenly rang out from the surrounding crowd. ¡°The Vigorous Fierce Tiger Fist? A medium-grade martial technique? That¡¯s impossible. Even if Lin Shi is a main division disciple, he¡¯s only at the second tier. He wouldn¡¯t have obtained a medium-grade martial technique.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too narrow-minded. Rumor has it that Lin Shi¡¯s identity is not that simple. He has a brother who¡¯s a genius in the Inner Residence, and his father is rumored to be a bigshot of our Lin Clan Sect Residence upper echelons¡­¡± 3 ¡°The proficiency level of martial techniques are divided into the Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Minor Advancement, Major Advancement, and Pinnacle levels. Lin Shi¡¯s talent isn¡¯t bad. This set of medium-grade martial arts, the Vigorous Fierce Tiger Fist gathers energy and manifests it in the form of a fierce tiger. He has even managed to reach Minor Advancement. It¡¯s no wonder he has the confidence to defeat a subdivision disciple like Lin Han in just one blow.¡± 2 At this time, many disciples around the Lin Clan Sect Residence watched the scene in shock. Many people observed a moment of silence in memory of Lin Han. Before Lin Shi, who had a medium-grade martial art, Lin Han could only admit defeat. ¡°Fierce Tiger, roar to the heavens!¡± 1 Lin Shi¡¯s eyes suddenly flashed in ferocity. His second tier martial arts True Chi instantly erupted. He lunged towards Lin Han, planning to completely defeat Lin Han in one blow. ¡°How vicious!¡± Lin Han felt a chill in his heart. ¡°Since you have no semblance of concern for your own kin, then I won¡¯t spare any mercy for you either.¡± ¡°Moving Dragon Palm!¡± Lin Han coldly shouted as he pushed his palm towards Lin Shi fiercely. ¡°Hahaha! My sides are killing me. Lin Han is using a low-grade martial art to fight Lin Shi. Isn¡¯t that a death wish?¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal for a waste from the subdivision like him to have no knowledge. Let¡¯s see how he dies!¡± ¡°He¡¯s really too naive¡­¡± 2 At this point, seeing that Lin Han made no move to avoid Lin Shi and attacked instead, the disciples Outer Residence disciples roared with laughter. It was hard for the sarcasm to be hidden from their expressions. ¡°Huh? It slowed down?¡± The moment Lin Shi rushed over, his movements suddenly became extremely slow in Lin Han¡¯s vision. Lin Han was instantly aware of all the loopholes in Lin Shi¡¯s martial technique. It was the terrifying perception the Golden Spirit Fire had granted him! Lin Han instantly found the reason. The Golden Spirit Fire was indeed extraordinary! ¡°Die!¡± For an instant, Lin Han¡¯s mouth curled with a cold smile. His palm flashed out, and the sound of a dragon roaring rang through the air. Bang! The sound of broken bones and flesh rang out. ¡°Ah!¡± Then, a shrill scream was heard. Under everyone¡¯s horrified eyes, a figure was suddenly sent flying. It was Lin Shi! He was blown away from Lin Han¡¯s powerful palm and he had no strength to resist at all. Lin Han, dressed in blue and with a straight back, merely stood on the spot like a sharp sword. At this moment, many people did not even dare to look at him. ¡°Oh my god! The person who was defeated in one blow was Lin Shi!¡± ¡°How could that be? Lin Shi had long stepped into the second tier, and he has even reached Minor Advancement in the medium-grade martial arts, Vigorous Fierce Tiger Palm, but he was still defeated by Lin Han?¡± The countless Outer Residence disciples were all watching with shock. Their eyes were full of disbelief. ¡°How terrifying. What powerful physical strength¡­¡± However, some disciples with extraordinary eyesight who seemed to have seen the reason for Lin Shi¡¯s defeat whispered. At this time, Lin Han stepped forward and looked at Lin Shi who was lying on the ground, coughing up blood. He slowly said, ¡°One move. You lost.¡± Lin Han said coldly before he turned away. No further conversation was needed with someone the likes of Lin Shi. 1 ¡°You¡­¡± Lin Shi¡¯s expression was full of disbelief. Lin Han, a lowly subdivision disciple, had defeated him with just one move? Impossible! It was impossible! At that moment, Lin Shi¡¯s eyes suddenly revealed a hint of killing intent. He took out a dagger from his bosom, and the cold blade glinted as it was thrust towards Lin Han¡¯s back. ¡°Oh? After all that, you still have the nerve to scheme against me?¡± Lin Han¡¯s perception was terrifying. He immediately sensed the cold snake-like killing intent behind him and turned around. Crack! Lin Han¡¯s palm shot out and broke Lin Shi¡¯s shoulder. The dagger fell to the ground with a ¡®clang¡¯. ¡°Ah!¡± His shoulder was broken and blood gushed out. Lin Shi suddenly roared with ferocity, ¡°You bastard, how dare you cripple my arm?!¡± ¡°You plotted to kill me. But I don¡¯t just want to cripple your arm, I also want to cripple your dantian and make you endure despair and pain!¡± Lin Han never showed any mercy towards his enemies. He picked up the dagger on the ground and walked towards Lin Shi. 3 ¡°You¡­ Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± Lin Shi¡¯s expression was that of abject horror. ¡°In your dreams! After all that humiliation in the past year! Even now, you plot to kill me. This dagger gives me the right to my revenge.¡± Lin Han smiled coldly. With a flick of his arm, the blade sunk deep into Lin Shi¡¯s abdomen with a ¡®squelch¡¯. His dantian was immediately shattered and crippled. When Lin Shi felt the pain, he let out a piercing scream. 2 The surrounding disciples quivered as they looked at Lin Han. In their eyes was an emotion that would never appear under normal circumstances ¡ª in their eyes was pure awe. ¡­ Half an hour later, Lin Han walked out of the Lin Clan Sect Residence and came to a clearing outside Broken Sky City. He settled down and started to practice his Moving Dragon Palm. Earlier, he was able to cripple Lin Shi with only one move because his cultivation had broken through to the second tier. Furthermore, the Golden Spirit Fire had strengthened his Qi-blood and True Qi. ¡°It seems like Lin Shi¡¯s background really isn¡¯t simple. Maybe more trouble will come and I need to continue to strengthen myself.¡± 2 Lin Han thought in his heart and started to cultivate the Moving Dragon Palm. Pa¡­pa¡­pa¡­ In the air, the clear and crisp sound rang out. Pa! Finally, the ninth clap rang out. Lin Han was overjoyed and muttered to himself, ¡°Although the Moving Dragon Palm is only a low-grade martial art, it¡¯s said that after reaching Pinnacle level, one would be able to hit nine strikes consecutively, and its power will be comparable to a medium-grade martial art! I¡¯ve reached the ninth strike. Could it be that the Golden Spirit Fire has also increased my insight?¡± 2 Lin Han was ecstatic. Just like that, he had become an all-round cultivation genius. 1 Furthermore, Lin Han could vaguely feel the Golden Spirit Fire burning quietly in his mind, imperceptibly transforming and strengthening other parts of his body¡­ 3 Half an hour later, Lin Han was in a good mood. So, he returned to his shabby house in the Lin Clan Sect Residence. He was preparing to have a good rest when the voice of the little maid suddenly sounded from outside. ¡°Young master, bad news. The higher-ups of the Sect have issued new regulations. We may be sent back to Changyun Village!¡± The little maid ran into the room with tears in her eyes. Chapter 4 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Xiao Nu, don¡¯t cry. Tell me exactly what happened?¡± Lin Han wiped the tears from the little maid¡¯s face and said. Seeing calmness on the Young Master¡¯s face, Xiao Nu seemed to calm down. However, her beautiful eyes were filled with sadness. ¡°The seniors have just issued news that a martial arts tea party will be held in ten days. However, in five days, a small ratio of Inner Residence disciples, around twenty-five, will be selected to enter the Inner Residence and participate. Five days later, all the disciples in the Outer Residence will participate, especially the subdivision disciples. If they fail to reach the top twenty-five, they¡¯ll be abandoned by the sect and sent back to the subdivision clan.¡± ¡°What? They¡¯ll be sent back to the subdivision clan?¡± Lin Han¡¯s expression changed. 2 He was very clear about what it represented. It represented the cruel elimination doctrine set forth by the Lin Clan Sect Residence. Lin Han knew that if he did not reach the top twenty-five, a lowly subdivision disciple like him would be expelled by the Lin Clan Sect Residence and he would be forced to return to his hometown. 1 ¡°I¡¯ll never let that happen!¡± 3 Lin Han¡¯s gaze suddenly became sharp. He vowed that he would never return to his hometown until he excelled and came up on top. 2 ¡°Young Master, what should we do?¡± the little maid Xiao Nu cried. ¡°Xiao Nu, don¡¯t worry. We won¡¯t be going back to Changyun Village,¡± Lin Han reassured. In that moment, a slight sliver of relief entered the little maid¡¯s heart. Broken Sky City was a large city in the Yan Kingdom. The fact that the Lin Clan Sect Residence was able to hold a place here was not without reason. The Lin Clan Sect Residence was divided into its Inner Residence and Outer Residence. The Inner Residence disciples were all elites, and although the Outer Residence disciples¡¯ cultivation was poorer, they were also talented individuals. An example was Lin Meier¡¯s partner, Lin Juedao. He was the fourth-most gifted disciple in the Outer Residence and his cultivation had reached the fourth tier. He had already transformed the True Chi in his body into True Element, and was extremely powerful. 1 ¡°There are several hundred disciples in the Outer Residence. The one I defeated earlier, Lin Shi, was just the weakest. Defeating him doesn¡¯t amount to much.¡± Lin Han was clear that his energy, Qi, and spirit had been transformed by the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind, but his strength was still not enough for him to stand out. Five days. It was neither a long nor a short time. Now, if he wanted to improve his strength, there were only two ways. The first was to cultivate more advanced martial techniques, and the second was to improve his cultivation. ¡°I should improve my cultivation first. My cultivation is my foundation!¡± Lin Han immediately decided. He looked at Xiao Nu and said, ¡°For the next three days, all you have to do is send in food. Turn away anyone who comes to visit.¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± Xiao Nu immediately nodded. Thump! As the door closed, Lin Han sat cross-legged and communicated with the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind. He started to cultivate the supreme inherited cultivation method, the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor came from the ancient number one supreme being and naturally had its special features. Not only could it continuously refine Lin Han¡¯s body, making it stronger, it could also quickly absorb the energy of the world in the air and strengthen his lifeforce. Boom boom boom boom. Currently, Lin Han sat cross-legged as he silently worked the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. The power in the surrounding air was immediately absorbed and integrated into his body. 1 Flesh, blood, and even his spirit started to grow stronger under the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. The True Qi in Lin Han¡¯s body also continued to strengthen. Lin Han knew that in five days, he had to reach at least the fourth tier and condense his True Qi into True Element to be able to stand out from the hundreds of other disciples and enter the top twenty-five. 1 For three whole days, Lin Han remained in the house, absorbed the energy in the air and transformed it into strength for his own body which continuously strengthened his cultivation. For an ordinary person, even a ninth tier great scholar would not be able to obtain power from the air. However, the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor allowed Lin Han to do it. This peerless cultivation method had the terrifying ability to turn something rotten into something magical. It was also thanks to this that Lin Han could avoid the embarrassing situation of running out of energy to absorb. That was because ordinary cultivators had to draw strength from spiritual energy stored inside a spirit stone. 1 There really were no outliers like Lin Han who could absorb energy directly from the air. For Lin Han, the air itself was his inexhaustible spirit stone. 4 Day after day, Lin Han continued to cultivate. Finally, on the morning of the third day, a powerful aura accompanied by a faint roar of a dragon rang out. Lin Han had gotten his wish and broke through again, stepping into the third tier. Next was to condense the True Qi inside his body into True Element and reach the fourth tier, becoming a master. Lin Han pushed open the door and walked in a certain direction. There, an ancient hall stood; it was the ¡®martial arts hall¡¯ of Lin Clan Sect Residence. There were several martial techniques inside which disciples who reached the second tier could take and cultivate. Now that Lin Han had stepped into the third tier, he was naturally qualified to enter. After all, in the past, he could not even touch the door to the martial arts hall. Along the way, he looked at the familiar trees and flowers around, and sighed in his heart. Just a few days ago, he was a lowly worm. He had never expected that a few days later, his cultivation would reach the third tier. 2 However, when Lin Han was halfway there, he met two of his ¡®acquaintances¡¯. It was his childhood sweetheart Lin Meier, and a young man who had a girl nestled by his side. It was the fourth genius of the Outer Residence, Lin Juedao. 1 ¡°You want to go to the martial arts hall again? Lin Han, wake up. Sometimes, people have to learn to adapt to their own identity. You¡¯re not the number one genius you were when you were at Changyun Village,¡± Lin Meier suddenly spoke, her tone laced with sarcasm. 1 In Lin Meier¡¯s eyes, Lin Han was a stain. With her current identity, Lin Han did not deserve to be her childhood sweetheart. Therefore, when met with Lin Han, Lin Meier continued on with an expression of mockery. ¡°Lin Han, after the Outer Residence competition, go back to Changyun Village. Ordinary people should just live ordinary lives. That¡¯s also a kind of happiness.¡± 1 ¡°You, just who do you think you are? What right do you have to lecture me?¡± Suddenly, Lin Han said coldly. ¡°What? Lin Han, you¡­ What did you say!?¡± Lin Meier shrieked, a trace of absolute disbelief on her beautiful face. 2 This piece of trash, this lowly existence, actually dared to speak to her this way? However, she saw a different kind of coldness in Lin Han¡¯s eyes. Lin Meier could not help but shiver. ¡°Elder Brother Dao!¡± She immediately cried to Lin Juedao beside her. ¡°Get down on your knees and break your own arm, and I¡¯ll let you live. I won¡¯t say it again,¡± Lin Juedao said ruthlessly. His voice was cold and tyrannical. 1 Buzz! Lin Juedao¡¯s expression was cold too. His fourth-tier aura was released and pressed down on Lin Han, attempting to force him to his knees. ¡°Hmph!¡± However, Lin Han merely scoffed coldly. In his mind, a five-claw Golden Azure Dragon rushed out of the Golden Spirit Fire and roared in his mind. An unyielding strong aura immediately released from within Lin Han to attack Lin Juedao¡¯s oppressive spirit. So, he stood there with a sneer on his face, unmoved. ¡°Oh? Interesting.¡± Lin Juedao revealed a little surprise, but also a trace of killing intent. However, it seemed like he was fearful of the rules as he did not make any moves. All Lin Juedao did was looked at Lin Han and smiled sarcastically. ¡°There are still two days left. I¡¯ll let you die miserably in the Outer Residence competition.¡± 1 Lin Juedao spoke his threats openly without any disguise. This was the mentality of the strong. There was no reason to reject tyranny! ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you, but you know¡­ Maybe I won¡¯t be the one dying¡­¡± Lin Han sneered back at him. Then, he walked away from the two and headed towards the martial arts hall. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll let you run around for a few more days.¡± Lin Juedao watched Lin Han leave, his dark eyes showing a trace of cruelty. Chapter 5 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Half an hour later, Lin Han arrived at his destination, the martial arts hall. The hall was majestic and ancient. It exuded an aura of the vicissitudes of life as it stood on the ground. This was the martial arts hall that stored countless martial techniques, as well as one of the Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s most sacred places. ¡°Halt!¡± However, just before Lin Han could step past the martial arts hall gate, a cold order suddenly sounded. It was two guards, both with second tier martial arts. They looked at Lin Han¡¯s coarse blue shirt, and their eyes instantly became cold. ¡°The martial arts hall is the Sect¡¯s sacred place. Since you¡¯re a subdivision disciple, please leave.¡± ¡°Why can they enter?¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyebrows raised as he pointed at the other side. There were several other subdivision disciples and they went in without anyone stopping them. ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯ve surpassed the boundary of the first tier. I know your name is Lin Han. You came here half a month ago but were blown out by the Hall Guard Elder. Your cultivation is only in the first tier. It¡¯s too low. You don¡¯t have the right to enter!¡± One of the guard warriors said with sharp eyes and a cold expression, ¡°Leave. This is not a place where you can enter. If you try to force your way in, don¡¯t blame us for being heartless.¡± 1 ¡°Force my way in?¡± Lin Han suddenly sneered. He took large strides towards the door with an indifferent expression. 1 What? This lowly subdivision brat really planned to force his way in? ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± A guard warrior grinned as True Qi burst from his body. His hand formed a claw, and energy hovered in his fingertips that was hard as steel. If an ordinary person was hit by those claws, their flesh would definitely rip apart. Even their bones might be crushed. ¡°Scram!¡± Lin Han suddenly ordered coldly and pressed his fist out. Roar! As the roar of a dragon sounded, an illusory dragon head appeared on the palm of Lin Han¡¯s hand. The Pinnacle realm Moving Dragon Palm instantly exploded. Crack! The next moment, the sound of bones breaking rang out. 1 ¡°Ah!¡± Accompanied by a miserable cry, a figure was sent flying. It was one of the guards in front of Lin Han. With no strength to resist, he was sent flying before he coughed up a mouthful of blood. ¡°What? You¡¯ve entered the third tier?!¡± The remaining guard warrior instantly paled in fear. He looked at Lin Han in terror; he was at a loss. ¡°The next time you dare to stop me, I¡¯ll cripple you, too!¡± 1 Lin Han marched into the martial arts hall while his confident voice rang across. Only at this moment could Lin Han feel the burdens in his life released. Sure enough, only with strength would he be qualified to speak. He entered the martial arts hall. In front of the gate and behind a jade table sat the Hall Guard Elder. ¡°Elder, I¡¯ve come to take my pick of martial arts.¡± Lin Han gave a fist salute. ¡°You again¡­ Oh? Did you breakthrough? You broke through to the third tier?¡± The Hall Guard Elder¡¯s impatient expression immediately shifted. He looked at Lin Han in shock. 1 This boy was clearly just in the first tier half a month ago. It was unbelievable. ¡°If one manages to reach the third tier at the age of seventeen, one can be qualified to enter the first floor of the martial arts hall.¡± The Hall Guard Elder nodded and said, ¡°You have one hour, on the first floor, you¡¯re only allowed to select one martial art at a time.¡± With that, the Hall Guard Elder stopped talking. Lin Han fist saluted and turned to enter the first floor. On the first floor were mostly low-grade and medium-grade martial arts. The truly powerful high-grade and top-grade martial arts were said to be on the second floor. 1 Unfortunately, only those who had reached the fourth tier of martial arts would be eligible to enter the second floor. As for the top floor of the martial arts hall ¡ª the third floor ¡ª one needed to be a martial arts master to be able to enter. It was said that extremely powerful martial arts that surpassed the top-grade were hidden there¡­ ¡°One hour, one martial art.¡± Lin Han recited in his heart and entered the first floor of the hall. The interior of the hall was dim. Lin Han looked across the room and saw rows of bookshelves as far as the eye could see. On each bookshelf were many ancient books on martial arts. ¡°Great Desolate Palm, Thirteen Wind-borne Swords, Firecloud Frenzy Knife, Traceless Walk¡­¡± Lin Han looked at them one by one. There were too many martial arts, all of which were low-grade and medium-grade. It made him slightly dizzy. Lin Han automatically skipped the palm techniques. He could still use the Moving Dragon Palm for the time being. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted a pot of wine, a sword to travel the world alone, and sword techniques! That¡¯s it, I want to pick a sword technique!¡± 1 Young and heroic, traveling the world with a sword in hand. This was the dream of every young man and Lin Han was no exception. ¡°Quick Draw Sword: Kill with every unsheathe, one sword to shake the heavens!¡± Lin Han looked at the list, unable to tear his eyes away. This ¡®Quick Draw Sword¡¯ was exactly what Lin Han wanted for his sword technique. 3 With one sword, he could change the winds and clouds, and cut the world itself! 1 ¡°This is it!¡± Lin Han was overjoyed. He picked up the Quick Draw Sword. ¡°I heard that the main division disciples could pick three at a time, but I can only select one. Although I¡¯ve already stepped into the third tier, I still have the status of a lowly subdivision disciple!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes showed a twinge of disdain. He picked up another old cultivation method. Since the Golden Spirit Fire had transformed all his abilities, he wanted to try out his memory. ¡°¡®Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps¡¯, medium-grade body martial arts, if cultivated to the Pinnacle level, one can take thirteen consecutive steps, graceful whilst not leaving a trace¡­¡± At this point, Lin Han widened his eyes. He suddenly sensed that the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind had instantly imprinted all the words and pictures in the book. ¡°Snap!¡± Lin Han was shocked. He put down the book in his hand and started to look at the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind. Buzz! All of a sudden, the words and pictures reappeared one by one in Lin Han¡¯s mind. It was the martial arts earlier, the Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps. ¡°Could it be that the Golden Spirit Fire can imprint external things and then replay them in my mind?¡± Lin Han was ecstatic and almost could not help but shout out. He immediately picked up another book and began memorizing it. ¡°Not good, dizzy¡­¡± Lin Han suddenly felt a bout of dizziness. ¡°It seems that it takes a lot of mental energy to imprint things from the outside world through the Golden Spirit Fire. My cultivation level is too low now, and can only handle imprinting one martial art at a time.¡± 3 Lin Han suddenly thought of the reason. Ling Han had discovered another function of the Golden Spirit Fire, and it made him delighted. Moreover, Lin Han faintly felt that this Golden Spirit Fire was not this simple. There were definitely other abilities as well. Boom! Using the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, Lin Han slightly eased his dizziness. After that, he turned and walked out of the martial arts hall. The ability to get an extra body martial art was already a huge gain. Now, he had obtained a sword technique and a body martial art. His cultivation and body also had the unrivaled Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. With this, Lin Han was overjoyed and his expression revealed his excitement. ¡°Quick Draw Sword? Are you sure you want to cultivate this kind of sword technique?¡± The Hall Guard Elder looked slightly surprised. ¡°Yes, the martial art I choose is this Quick Draw Sword,¡± Lin Han said firmly. ¡°Very well.¡± The Hall Guard Elder secretly shook his head, thinking that Lin Han was too ambitious. The Quick Draw Sword was extremely overbearing. If his insight towards sword techniques was not high enough, he might even end up hurting himself. However, looking at Lin Han¡¯s confident expression, the Hall Guard Elder did not say much. He handed Lin Han a copy of the Quick Draw Sword and said, ¡°No martial art in the Sect shall be spread outside.¡± ¡°Yes, Elder.¡± Lin Han fist saluted and walked out of the hall with a calm face. Seeing Lin Han¡¯s distancing figure, the Hall Guard Elder shook his head and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s rare for such a good sapling to come from the subdivision. I hope he doesn¡¯t end up crippling himself when cultivating the Quick Draw Sword¡­¡± Chapter 6 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Han left the martial arts hall of Lin Clan Sect Residence and headed directly towards the woods outside of Broken Sky City. ¡°Moving Dragon Palm!¡± Crack! Lin Han knocked down an ancient tree with one swift movement, then carved a three-foot-long wooden sword and a scabbard out of its trunk. Lin Han was penniless at this point in his life. There was no way he could afford a good sword produced from the proper steelmaking process. Hence, he equipped himself with a wooden sword. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± Utilizing the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, Lin Han circulated and prolonged the True Qi inside him in order to prepare himself for high-intensity training. The prefecture-level contest would be held in two days¡¯ time. Right now, Lin Han had to intensify his cultivation process. Clang! Clang! ¡­ The sound of the sword whistling through the air came loud and clear from deep in the woods. Perhaps, besides Lin Han the madman, no one else could produce such a metallic sound by utilizing a wooden sword. The Golden Spirit Fire had enhanced Lin Han¡¯s various abilities with a touch of demonic strength. On the other hand, the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor entrusted Lin Han with essential True Qi and a powerful body. So, it provided him the ability to plunder a limitless supply of spiritual energy from the surrounding environment to refine his strength. These two powers were like two enormous engines that massively sped up Lin Han¡¯s cultivation compared to ordinary people. A few hours passed silently. At this moment, Lin Han was still standing in the woods. However, one of his hands flew to the handle of his wooden sword that was rested in its scabbard. As he had the sharp eyes of a brave eagle, within seconds, his gaze was fixed on a ferocious tiger that suddenly appeared in front of him. ¡°Roar!¡± This aggressive tiger with extraordinary strength looked as if it had cultivated some demonic energy. It appeared to be a strong demonic tiger that was almost entering the martial arts fourth tier boundary. Boom! The demonic tiger roared as if it could sense the exuberant blood flow running through Lin Han¡¯s body. Without warning, it scratched its unbelievably huge and shiny claws that looked as heavy as a lower millstone at Lin Han¡¯s direction. Undoubtedly, any ordinary third tier warrior would be scared witless if threatened by this fearful demonic tiger. However, at this moment, Lin Han, the successor of the First Ancient Dragon Emperor, had a Golden Azure Dragon roaring deafeningly in his consciousness. He was not terrified at this savagely fierce demonic tiger at all. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± 1 Lin Han cried out all of a sudden. Clang! In the next moment, his sword glowed as bright as lighting as he cut through the sky. An ear-shattering noise accompanied his strike and it landed straight on the demonic tiger. ¡°Oof!¡± Blood spattered onto the ground. Bang! A tiger¡¯s head rose high in the air and was cut off by Lin Han¡¯s sword. Its enormous body fell to the ground with a howl and it died instantly. ¡°Phew!¡± That was a close call! However, it had perfectly demonstrated to Lin Han the destructive power brought by the Quick Draw Sword. Once out of its scabbard, the sword could kill in one swift movement with the dominance of thunder in the skies. Mighty and powerful! ¡°My current learning ability is indeed like that of a demon¡¯s. In just a few hours, I¡¯ve strengthened the Quick Draw Sword to nearly the Intermediate stage!¡± exclaimed Lin Han eagerly. Next, Lin Han continued to cultivate the Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps. His extraordinary learning ability had immensely sped up his progress. Not long after, he had mastered seven out of the Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps. He was already approaching the Intermediate stage. Finally, Lin Han sat on the ground in the Lotus Position. He circulated the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor to devour all the energy in the air of his immediate surroundings. The faint silhouette of an imaginary furnace appeared in Lin Han¡¯s dantian. Buzz! That furnace was drawing in an infinite amount of spiritual energy. The energy would later be transformed into a gushing stream of mysterious strength to be infused into Lin Han¡¯s body. It could boost his vital energy and the state of his blood, strengthen his physical body, and build up his True Qi. Lin Han noticed indistinctly that the True Qi in his body was concentrating into a condensed ball of True Element. ¡°Phew!¡± Lin Han rose to his feet. From this cultivation process, he learned that he was already at the boundary of the third tier of martial arts, progressing towards the fourth tier. ¡°To qualify as top twenty-five in the prefecture-level contest is no longer a dream!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes shone with brilliance as the fighting spirit in him surfaced. ¡­ Lin Han did not waste away his afternoon as well. He went to the residence¡¯s combat arena to practice his sword skills. The reason for this was because there was a real, genuine steel-made longsword on the weapon rack of this combat arena. Practicing only with the wooden sword did not allow him to properly exert the full strength of the Quick Draw Sword. However, just as Lin Han was approaching the combat arena¡­ Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of a sword striking something hard suddenly entered his ears. It appeared to Lin Han that a young disciple had shattered a piece of ironstone stele1 situated in the combat arena into two halves with only three blows of his sword. ¡°Terrifying sword skills! Brother Lin Jian, you definitely deserve to be called our prefecture¡¯s greatest swordsman!¡± ¡°Amazing! Brother Lin Jian broke this uniquely-made stele into half using only three sword moves.¡± Those prefecture disciples were bubbling over with excitement. ¡°Not bad, indeed.¡± Lin Han noticed that Lin Jian had performed the moves with speed and each of them landed perfectly on the same spot. This level of precision was indeed commendable. However, Lin Han did not join in with the praise. He walked over to the other side of the combat arena silently and retrieved a refined steel sword from the weapon rack. He was about to continue cultivating Quick Draw Sword. ¡°Eh? Isn¡¯t that Lin Han? Does that good-for-nothing subdivision disciple dare to practice his sword skills in front of Brother Lin Jian? He¡¯s going to embarrass himself in front of the expert.¡± One of the main division disciples mentioned when he noticed Lin Han. ¡°Lin Han? That¡¯s the subdivision disciple that defeated Lin Shi with a single move?¡± ¡°Lin Shi¡¯s the weakest main division disciple from our prefecture, defeating him doesn¡¯t mean anything. What a useless prick! I think he wants to practice his sword skills in public to let his presence be known. Ridiculous man.¡± Suddenly, he became an object of ridicule. Those main division disciples seemed to have made ridiculing Lin Han the subdivision disciple a common goal of theirs. ¡®Practice sword skills? To let my presence be known?¡¯ Lin Han dismissed those voices that entered his ears with a mirthless grin. He could not be bothered to entertain their nonsense so he started to cultivate Quick Draw Sword in concentration. ¡°Mastering swordsmanship is a process of gradual accumulation. Flourishing your sword in showy movements is an insult to swordsmanship.¡± A scornful remark rang in the air out of the blue. It was Lin Jian! At this moment, the prefecture¡¯s greatest swordsman looked at Lin Han who was standing within a stone¡¯s throw away and sneered, ¡°A useless guy that can¡¯t even afford a real sword is not qualified to practice his skills in this combat arena. It¡¯s a disgrace to the swordsmen of my Lin Clan Sect Residence!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember to have offended you.¡± Lin Han lowered the sword in his hand and said softly to Lin Jian who had a contemptuous look on his face. ¡°You¡¯ve offended me by cultivating your inferior sword skills within my sight,¡± jeered Lin Jian. He was glaring at Lin Han with a smirk flashed on his face. ¡°Alright, if you think my swordsmanship is inferior, why don¡¯t we have a sword fight? If I lose, I¡¯ll cut off my right arm and never practice sword again, but if you lose¡­¡± ¡°I never lose!¡± Lin Jian shouted. Lin Han continued on without paying the other man any attention, ¡°If you lose, I don¡¯t want your arm, but just that sword you¡¯re holding right now.¡± That unusually keen-edged longsword in Lin Jian¡¯s hand was definitely a unique treasure. It was exactly the kind of longsword that Lin Han wanted. ¡°You¡¯re not qualified to fight me unless you can break a piece of stele into two halves with only three sword moves,¡± said Lin Jian sarcastically all of a sudden. ¡°Hahaha, Brother Lin Jian¡¯s messing around with this lad!¡± ¡°Up until now, no one else apart from Brother Lin Jian has managed to break a stele into two halves with only three blows of the sword. I don¡¯t think this good-for-nothing subdivision Lin Han can do it.¡± All the other main division disciples turned their attention towards Lin Han with mocking looks on their faces. ¡°Deal.¡± Out of everyone¡¯s surprise, Lin Han, who was unfazed by the onlookers, agreed to the challenge. He approached another piece of stele and took a good look at the ironstone-cast, dark-colored stele. The sword left its scabbard. Clang! A blinding light flashed in the air. Crack! The stele cracked and shattered into half. The sword returned to its scabbard. ¡°Alright then, what about now?¡± Lin Han said softly. Two simple movements ¡ª sword out, sword in. Then, the stele shattered into pieces. ¡°Impossible.¡± At this moment, the disciples were taken over by complete shock. They wanted to watch Lin Han make a fool of himself but now they were staring at him with unbelievable astonishment. Especially Lin Jian, whose eyes were glazed over. One blow? Just one blow? How was that even possible!? Chapter 7 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°A fluke! That must be a fluke!¡¯ ¡°That ironstone stele must have rotten because of old-age. That¡¯s why this subdivision lad can break it in one blow!¡± ¡°Brother Lin Jian, we all regard you as the greatest swordsman of the prefecture. So, what do you think?¡± Right now, those main division disciples were in complete chaos because they were afraid of losing their face. They absolutely did not want to believe that Lin Han possessed such petrifying swordsmanship. Lin Jian was also rather embarrassed. He glanced over at Lin Han, who was smiling faintly, with a trace of coldness flashed in his narrow eyes. ¡°Great swordsmanship is all about precision. Possessing explosive force is nothing worth gloating about,¡± commented Lin Jian as if he was asked to set the world to rights. ¡°Brother Lin Jian is right; a good swordsman needs precision. Having merely explosive power only makes one reckless.¡± ¡°Spot on! Brother Lin Jian is indeed our prefecture¡¯s greatest swordsman.¡± Soon, the rest of the main division disciples echoed suit. At this moment, Lin Han suddenly approached one of the main division disciples that were ridiculing him. ¡°Lin Han, what¡¯re you doing?¡± asked the man cautiously. Perhaps, he was still in shock by Lin Han¡¯s earlier performance of breaking the stele into half with one strike. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I¡¯m not precise in my strikes?¡± Lin Han¡¯s lips turned upward into a smirk as he removed his longsword out of its scabbard. Clang! A dazzling light appeared in the air once again. ¡°Screech!¡± The sword was already back in its scabbard in the next second. Lin Han turned around and walked away. ¡°You¡­¡± That enraged main division disciple had his mouth wide open as if he wanted to retaliate. However, something unbelievable happened right at this second. A strand of hair that fell over this disciple¡¯s brow suddenly broke into three tiny parts. Each part that fell onto the ground was of precisely the same length. In other words, Lin Han had brandished his sword in the air three times within seconds. Each brandish had cut off three tiny parts from one strand of hair in the exact same length. Fast, strong and precise! 1 It was completely out of this world! The surrounding main division disciples were taken aback. They would never dare to look down upon this ¡°useless disciple¡± from the subdivision ever again. Lin Jian, the greatest swordsman in the prefecture, was in a daze once more. He did not catch what had happened earlier, even with his eagle eyes. Lin Han¡­ Who actually was this freak? The chaotic scene had attracted the attention of several talented young ladies. Among the ladies, there was an absolute beauty dressed in a jade-green outfit. 1 She was wearing a thin bluish-green cotton dress. Her shoulders were slender and her waist tiny, she had smooth and glossy skin that smelled like orchids. At this moment, her charming eyes were looking at them with amused curiosity. 1 ¡°Gosh! That¡¯s Lin Ruyan right in front of my eyes!¡± ¡°Lin Ruyan ¡ª the blessed girl from heaven. Not only does she look as beautiful as a flower, but her cultivation level is excellent too; she¡¯s a rare genius. She¡¯s competing to be the top three in the upcoming prefecture-level contest.¡± ¡°I heard that she¡¯s been cultivating in secret for a while now and she has long advanced into the fourth tier of martial arts. She has concentrated True Element and has succeeded in becoming a master.¡± Each one of those main division disciples was obsessing over the beautiful girl in the green dress. In their eyes, Lin Ruyan was indeed a blessed girl from heaven who acquired both beauty and talent. ¡°Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor!¡± Lin Han was also curious. He looked over at the lady and secretly circulated the power of the Art of Ancient Dragon Emperor in his body. That powerful perception of his allowed Lin Han to pry into Lin Ruyan¡¯s boundary instantaneously. He discovered that the True Element in Lin Ruyan¡¯s body was extremely powerful and was leagues beyond his. ¡®It seems that Lin Ruyan is probably the strongest out of all the masters. She might even have attained the martial arts fifth tier boundary,¡¯ thought Lin Han to himself after some consideration. In the past, Lin Han was nothing but a lowly, useless thing from the subdivision. He would never have had the courage to look at a strong, powerful lady from the main division like Lin Ruyan in the eyes. Today, his essence, energy, and spirit had been transformed by the Golden Spirit Fire. Besides, the Ancient Dragon Emperor had thrust upon Lin Han a kind of superior self-confidence. 1 Therefore, Lin Han did not avert his gaze but instead looked straight into the eyes of Lin Ruyan with appreciation and admiration. After all, every gentleman fancied a fair lady. 1 At this moment, it seemed that Lin Han¡¯s unconcealed gaze had been noticed when a hint of annoyance flashed across Lin Ruyan¡¯s eyes. ¡®This lad from the subdivision really has some nerve.¡¯ ¡°Young lad, advanced sword skills are not important because we practice swordsmanship to kill, not to show off.¡± Suddenly, Lin Jian spoke. He seemed as if he deliberately wanted to brag in front of Lin Ruyan in order to win over the blessed girl from heaven. He looked at Lin Han and posed him a question with a sarcastic tone, ¡°The fight that you mentioned earlier¡­ Is it still on the table?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Lin Han retracted his gaze and turned towards Lin Jian. To be exact, he was actually looking at the eerie-looking sword in the man¡¯s hand. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you afraid?¡± challenged Lin Han. ¡°Me? Hahaha!¡± A hint of coldness flashed across Lin Jian¡¯s eyes as he teased, ¡°I¡¯ve not fought someone else since advancing into martial arts fourth tier boundary because no one can handle my sword. It¡¯s a good day to engage in a fight. Besides, I can show you what real swordsmanship is, scum of the subdivision. This will teach you to not mess with the wrong people!¡± As Lin Jian spoke, a sliver of murderous intent radiated from him. It was the kind of murderous intent that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. From afar, Lin Ruyan appeared to have realized Lin Jian¡¯s murderous intent. She frowned slightly as she thought it was a bad omen to kill someone within the periphery of the clan residence. Prior to this, Lin Ruyan had never heard of this nobody called Lin Han. Now that she knew he was only a subdivision disciple, her pair of enchanting eyes looked at him with pity. For him to challenge Lin Jian was equivalent to asking for his own death. However, Lin Ruyan was suddenly reminded of how Lin Han had glared at her just a few minutes ago. Hence, she snorted and thought to herself that the rude young lad deserved to be taught a lesson by Lin Jian. Lin Ruyan subtly released an imposing aura that showcased her impressive strength despite that disdainful thought in her mind. Although she was not acquainted with Lin Han, she somehow felt slightly disgusted by him. Ironically, deep in her heart, she did not want to sacrifice a living member of her clan just like that. Lin Han was a member of the Lin clan, after all. 1 ¡°I¡¯ll just allow that Lin Jian to torture you a little.¡± Lin Ruyan decided that she would rescue that poor thing just before Lin Jian took his life. There was still kindness in the young lady¡¯s heart. 1 Meanwhile, the surrounding disciples were already simmering with excitement, despite Lin Han having surprised them with his sword skills just a few moments earlier. However, that was only swordsmanship skills. The deciding factor for a fight still came down to the strength and power of one¡¯s cultivation. ¡°When he fought and defeated Lin Shi a few days ago, his opponent was only a low cultivation level guy in martial arts second tier.¡± ¡°Not only is Brother Lin Jian great with his sword, but he has advanced into the martial arts fourth tier with concentrated True Element. This poor lad Lin Han will definitely lose.¡± Lin Han was now surrounded by main divisions disciples who were glaring at him intensely. This subdivision disciple made them feel threatened. If Lin Jian could take him down, then it would be so much easier for them to perform in the prefecture-level contest. In their opinions, subdivision disciples were inferior and they held no sympathy towards these people, albeit that they were from the same clan. For some, all it came down to was if it would benefit their own interests. Back in the days, when Lin Han was weak, they only regarded him with contempt and disgust. 1 Now that they had witnessed Lin Han¡¯s superb swordsmanship, what remained in their hearts was murderous intentions and a tinge of fear. ¡°Come, fight with me!¡± Right at this moment, Lin Han suddenly looked at Lin Jian who was standing not far away with a cold expression in his eyes. He stood tall and upright, like a spear that wanted to pierce through the sky. The shabby green clothes he was dressed in could not conceal his light. Lin Han declared fiercely, ¡°I¡¯d like to see if I can handle your sword moves!¡± Fighting was imminent! Chapter 8 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Buzz! At this point, both Lin Han and Lin Jian were boiling with imposing strength. Clang! Finally, Lin Jian made his move. The longsword in his hand suddenly gleamed with death and flew towards Lin Han. ¡°Thirteen Gleaming Swords; Swords kill the commoners!¡± 2 His eyes flashed and the corners of his lips turned into a smirk. The murderous intention of his sword emanating from him filled the surrounding air. Boom! A twinge of attacking intent exploded. As soon as that gleaming sword came out of its scabbard, the air around it immediately felt chilly and eerie. ¡°Thirteen Gleaming Swords! This is a set of high-grade martial arts with immense power!¡± ¡°Brother Lin Jian deserves to be called the Outer Residence¡¯s Greatest Swordsman. With his level of sword intention and swordsmanship, it¡¯s possible his techniques are already at the Minor Advancement state!¡± ¡°Kill this petty lad from the subdivision. In the Lin Clan Sect Residence, the main division disciples are the most powerful!¡± At this moment, as if affected by Lin Jian¡¯s sword intention, countless of main division disciples around him began to shout loudly. It had even affected Lin Ruyan who was standing not far away. In the world of swordsmanship, Lin Jian was indeed a rare talent. He was already familiarized with sword intention although he had only attained martial arts fourth tier boundary and had just recently condensed his True Element. No one in the arena was optimistic about Lin Han¡¯s chances. They thought that he would be defeated, or even killed, by a single blow of the sword. Roar! The sound of a dragon rumbling rang in the air sounded loudly all of a sudden. ¡°Moving Dragon Palm!¡± 1 Lin Han yelled in response to the petrifying sword intent. Bang! The power of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor erupted from within his body at once. Combining that to the strength of the Moving Dragon Palm, its effect was significantly amplified. At this moment, Lin Han could obviously feel that the power of Moving Dragon Palm had surpassed low-grade martial arts. It was a middle-grade martial art now, nearing the capacity of high-grade martial arts! ¡°Bang!¡± A majestic dragon head formed by the condensation of True Qi appeared on Lin Han¡¯s palm. The dignified beast rumbled into the sky and jostled its way onto Lin Jian¡¯s longsword. One, two, three! The huge burst of explosive power put on a solemn expression on Lin Jian¡¯s face. He could not hold himself steady and took three steps backward before he took hold of his footing. On the other hand, Lin Han was standing right where he was a minute ago, completely motionless. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Everyone took a sharp inhale at the sight of this. Lin Han defeated Lin Jian? With his bare hands? Impossible! How could he? Unless his palms were made up of iron steel, how could a body made up of flesh and blood withstand a blow from that longsword? ¡°What is that martial art?¡± ¡°Is it possible that it¡¯s¡­The Moving Dragon Palm?¡± ¡°Moving Dragon Palm? That¡¯s not possible! The Moving Dragon Palm is Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s lowest grade martial arts palm move. It can¡¯t be packed with such frightening power!¡± Many of the main disciples were utterly distressed while color drained from their faces. ¡®What mighty physical force! Is it possible that Lin Han has cultivated a powerful refining technique?¡¯ Lin Ruyan witnessed this scene from a distance and was filled with surprise. 1 For the first time, she became interested in this petty and low subdivision disciple named Lin Han. 2 She was about to lend him a hand, but she thought otherwise. It appeared now that Lin Han was a dark horse that had always been hidden in disguise. ¡®He was a nobody but now everyone knows about him. He¡¯s quite a patient man.¡¯ Lin Ruyan chuckled. This enchanting smile of hers made some young male disciples stare at her dreamily as if they were drunk and stupefied. ¡°You¡­¡± Feeling the tremendous power emanating from the sword blade, Lin Jian¡¯s expression became gloomy instead. He glared at Lin Han while his eyes flashed a hint of anger, and he said, ¡°Are you messing around with me? Why didn¡¯t you use your sword?¡± At this very moment, Lin Jian was boiling with strong murderous intent towards Lin Han. That feeling grew more when he noticed that the attractive and wonderful Lin Ruyan had her gaze fixed on Lin Han. He was filled with an urge to do something ruthless and tyrannical. How could he be defeated by a petty and lowly subdivision disciple? It was simply unforgivable! Buzz! Suddenly, a fierce look washed over Lin Jian¡¯s face as he roared at his opponent, ¡°Use your sword! This is not a swordsmanship competition if you simply suppress me with your physical strength!¡± ¡®Suppress you with my physical strength?¡¯ Lin Han had to stifle his laugh as he stared as Lin Jian. Lin Jian thought Lin Han¡¯s swordsmanship was inadequate so he suppressed the opponent with physical strength. Earlier, Lin Han performed Moving Dragon Palm just to feel Lin Jian¡¯s sword intent. He utilized the Golden Spirit Fire in his consciousness to trace an imprint into his martial arts memory so he could have the sword intent for his own use in the future. ¡°If you really want to die then I¡¯ll grant you your wish!¡± All of a sudden, a violent form of murderous intent rose in Lin Han too while he received the same threat from Lin Jian. Lin Han had always believed in a tooth for a tooth when dealing with the enemy. 1 ¡°There¡¯s only one move in Quick Draw Sword and blood will be spilled when the sword leaves its scabbard!¡± Lin Han announced abruptly, though with a hint of resoluteness in his voice. With an expression as sharp as a blade, he stared at Lin Jian and shouted, ¡°I will only use my sword with your written and proven consent!¡± Written and proven consent! This sentence alarmed and frightened everyone in the scene. All of them felt the effects of his terrifying mannerism and murderous intention. ¡°Very well, I¡¯m not afraid of you!¡± Deep in his heart, Lin Jian struggled to agree. However, the words were expelled from his mouth when he realized that the surrounding main division disciples looked at him with expectant eyes, including those of Lin Ruyan. Later, both of them imprinted their handprints on a piece of paper. Everything was now in black and white. There was a rule in the Lin Clan Sect Residence which stated that disciples of the Lin clan could not kill one another without a proper reason. However, if there was written consent present, then even the upper levels of the clan could not meddle in their affairs. In other words, the matter of life and death would be left to the hands of the gods. In this case, the matter of consent was sorted. Lin Jian¡¯s ferocious features twisted when he yelled at Lin Han, ¡°Finally, I¡¯ll leave your body to the dogs!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± A powerful aura erupted from his body. ¡°Major Advancement state martial arts!¡± ¡°Perhaps, Brother Lin Jian only showcased a Minor Advancement state of Thirteen Gleaming Swords earlier on purpose.¡± ¡°Good one. No doubt this subdivision lad would die this time, hahaha!¡± Everyone suddenly came to this new realization. As it turned out, Lin Jian had set his opponent up. He performed weakly intentionally to trick Lin Han into signing a consent form so that he could kill him lawfully in broad daylight. Right at this moment, Lin Ruyan furrowed her brows. She could not meddle in the affair now that they had signed a consent form. Would Lin Han, this new-formed dark horse, get murdered today? ¡°Young lad, you¡¯re definitely going to die. You¡¯re too na?ve to think that you¡¯re invincible.¡± Lin Jian¡¯s eyes were cruel and murderous. However, Lin Han responded with a smirk. ¡°Go on, you¡¯ll stand no chance once I draw my sword!¡± he yelled. ¡°Lad, don¡¯t provoke me!¡± ¡°Thirteen Gleaming Swords, Swords kill the commoners!¡± 1 Clang! Clang! ¡­ Lin Jian suddenly brandished his sword in the air. All thirteen sword moves crossed one after another, their sharp edges pointed towards Lin Han with strong murderous intent. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± A cold expression washed over Lin Han¡¯s face at this moment. Clang! The sword left its scabbard. Boom! It was as if a clap of thunder roared in the air! Puff! In the next moment, a ray of sword-light as quick as lightning cut through the sky and shattered all thirteen sword moves performed by Lin Jian before it eventually landed at his throat. Clang! The sword returned to its scabbard. Lin Han¡¯s silhouette returned to his original standing position. The motionless green figure stood tall and upright. The other people turned towards the other direction at once. There! Lin Jian¡¯s dead body laid still on the ground. A bloodstain appeared on his throat. 1 Slitting the throat with one blow of the sword! That one strike from Lin Han came out like thunder and it murdered Lin Jian straight away! ¡°This is the legendary Quick Draw Sword. The sword is drawn like a rumble of thunder and once it¡¯s out, it¡¯s stained with blood!¡± Right now, many of those Outer Residence disciples could not stop their bodies from shivering. Lin Han was invincible. On the other hand, Lin Han who acted as if he had merely killed a fly, walked forward and picked up that longsword that laid next to Lin Jian¡¯s corpse. This was the spoil of war as agreed, so naturally, it belonged to him now. Lin Han walked away from the combat arena and everyone else automatically made way for him. This demon was so terrifying that no one else from the Outer Residence dared to provoke him. ¡°No matter what, I thank you for your good intentions, but it seems like I don¡¯t need your assistance.¡± Lin Han had a strong perception and he knew, from the start, of Lin Ruyan¡¯s little trick. So, he walked in front of her and gave a gentle smile. 1 Then, he left. With that gleaming longsword on his back, his retreating figure gradually disappeared. A few moments later, Lin Ruyan finally regained her composure. Chapter 9 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Han left the combat arena of the residence and headed towards the practice room. There was a puppet made out of ironstone that he could fight against to sharpen his sword skills to the maximum. He was not qualified to enter the practice room before, but naturally, he could now because of his peaking cultivation level at martial arts third tier. However, a grievous voice rang in his ear when he was just about halfway to his destination. ¡°Lin Han, I finally found you. I thought you were going to hide in your little shell forever like a tortoise!¡± It was Lin Shi again. Lin Han turned around to the source of the voice with his brows knitted together. Lin Shi, whom he had crippled last time, dared to flagrantly provoke him once more? Tap, tap! Three silhouettes approached from afar, with Lin Shi positioned in the middle, looking all-powerful and imposing. He was glaring fiercely into Lin Han¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve recovered your dantian?¡± asked Lin Han in astonishment. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Lin Shi smiled coldly before adding, ¡°I acquired a spiritual pill that healed my dantian and Qi formation. Moreover, I¡¯ve attained martial arts third tier with the help of this powerful spiritual energy. Lin Han, today¡¯s the day that you¡¯re going to die!¡± 1 Lin Han had made Lin Shi a laughing stock back when he disabled Lin Shi¡¯s dantian in front of a crowd. Lin Shi, at this moment, had strong murderous intent for Lin Han and could not wait to shatter him into a million pieces. However, Lin Han could not care less. He had just murdered the Outer Residence Greatest Swordsman, Lin Jian, of martial arts fourth tier with a blow of the sword. Lin Shi was surely not his opponent. He would be just another waste of his time. ¡°Don¡¯t get in my way. I don¡¯t have time to mess around with you,¡± said Lin Han with a cold expression in his eyes as he headed to his destination. I don¡¯t have time to mess around with you? Lin Shi felt a great shame wash over him. All of a sudden, a longsword that gleamed with death appeared in his hand. Screech! The chilly and blinding sword-light flew towards Lin Han. ¡°Get lost!¡± Lin Han cried out suddenly. Bang! A terrifying power exploded as Lin Han thrust his arm outward. The dragon head made up of True Qi condensation appeared ferociously as it roared at the sky and rushed directly towards Lin Shi. Crack! The longsword was smashed into pieces within seconds. 1 Bang! Lin Han¡¯s unabated fist strength landed on Lin Shi¡¯s dantian and immediately destroyed his Sea of Qi. ¡°Ah!¡± Accompanied by a miserable wailing, the man was thrown into the air and later spat out blood from his mouth. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper. One punch! It happened again! ¡°How is that possible? Impossible! I¡¯ve attained martial arts third tier but you still defeated me with just one punch?¡± Lin Shi said in a glazed look. The faces of those two disciples next to him also twitched involuntarily. When did Lin Han become so powerful? Defeating a martial arts third tier warrior with just one punch? Too powerful! Absolutely terrifying! The two disciples trembled for quite some time. They averted Lin Han¡¯s gaze intentionally for fear that they would court their own destruction. ¡°I¡¯d have killed you if we had written a form of consent earlier!¡± Lin Han tossed those words coldly at Lin Shi, whom he had destroyed for the second time. Then, he turned around and walked away. He had long decided that Lin Shi was not an opponent worthy of his time. Since he acquired the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor and the vast expanse of land manifested in his mind by the Golden Spirit Fire, Lin Han¡¯s aspiration had expanded beyond the limits of this small Lin clan. 1 He knew that he was destined to break out of the Lin clan and the Broken Sky City, maybe even the Yan Kingdom, and into the wider legendary world of spiritual and martial arts. On the other hand, one of the disciples who was looking at Lin Han¡¯s receding silhouette suddenly said to Lin Shi, ¡°Young Master Shi, don¡¯t worry. Your brother, Lin Lang is ranked the seventh powerhouse in Outer Residence. Let him who has long advanced into the martial arts fourth tier avenge you!¡± ¡°This wrong must be avenged.¡± Lin Shi kept a somber expression as the pain from his damaged dantian spread to the rest of his body. ¡­ Next, Lin Han went to the residence¡¯s weapon hall to identify the grade of Lin Jian¡¯s sword. Lin Han was very pleased with the results. The longsword, surrounded by a trace of chilly air, turned out to be a low-grade weapon incorporated with cold steel! Weapons, like martial arts, were categorized into different grades as such: low-grade, medium-grade, high-grade, and top-grade. Even weapons that were classified as low-grade were multiple times sharper and sturdier than an ordinary sword made of refined steel. Moreover, this long sword incorporated with cold steel possessed properties of ice that made it more lethal. Not only did Lin Han acquire this longsword through murdering Lin Jian, but he had also obtained a set of high-grade martial arts which was the Thirteen Gleaming Swords. Exactly, the Thirteen Gleaming Swords! This was because when Lin Jian demonstrated his sword moves in the fight, Lin Han had imprinted all thirteen of them into the Golden Spirit Fire for his own usage. Right now, Lin Han arrived at one of the practice rooms in the residence. An enormous puppet made of ironstone was staring at him aggressively from the opposite direction. ¡°Thirteen Gleaming Swords!¡± ¡°Swords to all nine divisions!¡± ¡°Swords seize the world!¡± ¡°Swords kill the commoners!¡± 1 Clang! Clang! Clang¡­ Several noises of sword clashing rang in the air like the rumble of thunder. Lin Han incorporated elements of Quick Draw Sword when he utilized this sword technique. Its sword Qi was sharp and domineering while it possessed an intention to cut through everything that came in its way. Lin Han was caught in his own thoughts. He hoped that he might be able to exert the power of top-grade martial arts if he perfected both Quick Draw Sword and Thirteen Gleaming Swords techniques to its Pinnacle state. Alas, it was too early to think about this. Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! The clashing of the longsword with the ironstone puppet produced deafening noises. Lin Han was making rapid progress in his swordsmanship thanks to his demonic talents modified by the Golden Spirit Fire. His paces oscillated with rhythm while he fought against the ironstone puppet. Turned out, he was practicing the Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps. He had two more days until the commence of the Outer Residence Competition. Naturally, he would not allow himself to slack off. An idea was growing in his mind, or perhaps one could say it was a wild ambition. He wanted to compete for the top three, or maybe even try and become the champion. The old Lin Han would never dare to even think about this idea. However, the confidence in him had expanded now that his physical body was blessed with the modification from the Golden Spirit Fire, in addition to his successful cultivation of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. If he was given sufficient time, he could foster his undeveloped potential to soar beyond the sky. Lin Han had been sharpening his swordsmanship and martial art techniques in the practice room all afternoon. His abilities were strong and powerful, and he was very satisfied with the progress. He had successfully progressed his Quick Draw Sword and Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps into the Major Advancement state while his Thirteen Gleaming Swords had also progressed into the Minor Advancement state. He had long perfected the Moving Dragon Palm to its Pinnacle state. However, the last time Lin Han tried to integrate it with the power of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, it resulted in an eruption of strength that was beyond the Pinnacle state. That unexpected result led Lin Han to wonder if there was another stage of martial arts beyond the Pinnacle state. ¡°One more day until the Outer Residence Competition.¡± Lin Han knew that his cultivation base of martial arts third tier was surely not sufficient for him to realize his wild ambition. For instance, Lin Ruyan who possessed forceful True Element might have already advanced into martial arts fifth tier and he definitely did not stand a chance against her. At this point, he had two options to further improve his combat power. First, to elevate his understanding of various martial arts; second, to promote his cultivation base into martial arts fourth tier. ¡°The most important thing is to see if I can break through the barricade of third tier and progress into martial arts fourth tier,¡± Lin Han muttered to himself. Although the Art of the Ancient Dragon Empire could devour the spiritual energy from its immediate surroundings for cultivation, it was an extremely time-consuming process. He needed a powerful, forceful adjuvant if he wanted to break through the barricade of third tier within one day. ¡°A medicinal pill!¡± His eyes twinkled with brilliance. However, he was only a poverty-stricken, subdivision disciple. He did not have the luxury of spending lavishly on medicinal pills. ¡°It seems like I¡¯ll have to try my luck at that place.¡± Finally, Lin Han made a decision through gritted teeth. Chapter 10 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation It was a chilly night. The Lin Clan Sect Residence was situated deep within the Outer Residence. Two young figures stood together next to a man-made cascading waterfall. One of the silhouettes belonged to Lin Shi. ¡°Lin Han? That¡¯s ridiculous! This subdivision disciple of petty status like a nonentity defeated you twice? That¡¯s unforgivable!¡± The slim figure that was standing beside Lin Shi yelled suddenly. This thin man was none other than Lin Shi¡¯s elder brother, Lin Lang ¨C the talented disciple who ranked seventh in power among the Outer Residence. ¡°Older Brother, you must crush that lad!¡± Lin Shi¡¯s dantian that had been destroyed twice could no longer be healed. In other words, all his martial arts practice was also brought down to nothing. His body was fuelled by the resentment he had against Lin Han. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re my only brother. Your loss will be avenged. When the time comes, I will take off the man¡¯s head and present it to you.¡± A determined expression flashed across Lin Lang¡¯s face as he declared. ¡°Thank you, Older Brother!¡± Lin Shi was overjoyed. His ruthless tiny eyes were filled with cruel intentions as he announced, ¡°Lin Han, you¡¯re dead to me!¡± ¡­ The early morning of the following day. Squeak! As usual, Lin Han pushed the door of his house open and took a deep breath. However, today¡¯s Lin Han was no longer the lowly subdivision ghost like he once was. ¡°Young Master.¡± A crisp voice rang in the air. Xiao Nu the maid wore her hair in plaits. She walked over holding a basin filled with water in her tiny hands. After washing up, Lin Han hurriedly walked out of his house and towards the Lin Clan Sect Residence. Today, he was going to execute the ¡°decision¡± that he had promised himself yesterday. In other words, he would head into Broken Sky Forest to hunt down demonic beasts in exchange for money. He would then spend that money on spiritual pills that would assist him in breaking through his current martial arts state. However, spiritual pills were generally very expensive so he would need a lot of money. Therefore, Lin Han only held a wait-and-see attitude. He thought that at the very least, he could practice his martial arts techniques even if he could not hunt down enough demonic beasts. With his current strength, Lin Han was qualified to be among the top 25 in tomorrow¡¯s Outer Residence Tournament. At least he would not be sent back to his hometown. However, Lin Han still wished to be fully prepared to compete for the top three, or even the champion title. If he succeeded, he would receive attention from the sect residence¡¯s upper-level management and finally obtain more resources for his cultivation purposes. After all, resources were essential for practicing martial arts. Even if Lin Han possessed world-famous skills and demonic talents, he still required a lot of resources to accumulate his strength in order to force his best self out of the abyss and into the sky like a dragon. Only by becoming powerful in the shortest time he could muster was he able to survive and break out of this marginal area into the land of the truly magnificent. It was only then that he could search for the mysterious and strange Ancient Land, murder the ¡°Ice God¡± Lan Bingyan to avenge and complete the last wish of the superior Dragon Emperor that had blessed him with this glorious transformation. An hour later, Lin Han first arrived at the well-known Pavilion of Spiritual Pills in Broken Sky City to inquire about the price of the spiritual pills. ¡°The key to progressing from martial arts third tier into the fourth tier is the transforming of True Qi to True Element. It¡¯s also an important step for a Warrior to advance into a Master. We have a medicinal pill called the Element Condensation Pill, which can aid you in breaking through your current boundary.¡± Inside the Pavilion of Spiritual Pills, an old man dressed in a black robe smiled as he explained to Lin Han. The old man had noticed the massive ¡°Lin¡± character embroidered on Lin Han¡¯s shirt when he first entered the pavilion. Naturally, he treated Lin Han with good manners as he could not afford to offend disciples of the Lin clan. In the Broken Sky City, the lineage of Lin Clan Sect Residence, Shen Clan Sect Residence, and the Governor¡¯s Residence were three of the most powerful clans that had worked together since the beginning of time. ¡°Element Condensation Pill?¡± Lin Han nodded because he had heard of this medicinal pill. It was said to have no side effects and could greatly assist a third tier Warrior to progress into a fourth tier Master. ¡°What is the price of this Element Condensation Pill?¡± Lin Han finally asked the most crucial question. ¡°Five hundred taels of gold,¡± replied the black-robed old man slowly. What? Five hundred taels of gold? The corners of Lin Han¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily at the ridiculous pricing. No wonder there was a saying that said that martial arts was a rich man¡¯s hobby. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m placing an order for one Element Condensation Pill. I¡¯ll swing by to pick it up tonight,¡± Lin Han said before he turned and left. Five hundred taels of gold was a large amount for Lin Han. It did cross his mind that he could sell the longsword plundered from Lin Jian, but it would be a pity to give up such a great weapon. ¡°I¡¯ll first go hunting for demonic beasts in the Broken Sky Forest. I¡¯m sure with my current cultivation base, I could earn this amount within a day.¡± Lin Han pondered for a moment before he walked steadily towards the outside of Broken Sky City. Broken Sky Forest was a towering mountain range that went on for tens of thousands of miles. It was the habitat of countless powerful, ancient demonic and fierce beasts. This stretch of mountain ranges bordered many countries. The Yan Kingdom in which Broken Sky City was located was one of them. Lin Han had no choice but to try his luck here in order to collect sufficient money to buy the Element Condensation Pill. He might be able to hunt down some rare beasts or collect some heavenly spiritual medicines that he could later sell off for a good price. Stomp! Lin Han had already perfected the Thirteen Moving Dragon Steps to the Major Advancement state that he was able to take ten steps at once. The sound of dragon roaring was extraordinarily imposing and that made Lin Han feel as light as a swallow. He allowed his perception to spread as soon as he entered the Broken Sky Forest. All of his martial qualities were transformed by the Golden Spirit Fire and they became extremely powerful. This provided him a unique advantage in hunting and killing demonic beasts in this forest. ¡°Hiss!¡± A green shimmer appeared out of nowhere. Lin Han immediately turned around and successfully avoided the shimmering mass as it attacked him. He looked toward the source of the light to discover that it was not a green light at all, but a small snake covered in green scales. It was an aquamarine snake, a highly venomous predator of the forest! Even a martial arts Grandmaster would die violently within seconds if they were bitten by it. Lin Han clicked his tongue silently. As expected, this forest was hidden with dangerous creatures that could devour him if he made a single wrong move. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± Clang! A ray of sword light suddenly cut through the air and reflected a dazzling gleam. ¡°Puff!¡± The little green snake was agile but it could never be quicker than Lin Han¡¯s sword. It was cut into half instantaneously. This kind of poisonous snake lost their combat advantage once their ambush tactics failed. Therefore, Lin Han could easily kill it with a blow of the sword. Lin Han kept the snake¡¯s corpse into the bag he carried and continued to move deeper into the woods. The scales, snake gall, venom, fangs, and other parts of that little green snake could be sold off at a good price. Alas, the amount collected was far from enough to buy one Element Condensation Pill. Yet, Lin Han continued to move forward. ¡°Boom.¡± Suddenly, a mighty cheetah appeared. The cheetah¡¯s eyes were savage and there appeared to be a real evil spirit around it. It was a demonic beast that had cultivated the demonic element! ¡°Puff.¡± However, the demonic cheetah only acquired low cultivation. It did not escape from Lin Han¡¯s sword and was killed on the spot. At this stage, his Quick Draw Sword technique was already at the Major Advancement state and soon, it would be perfected into the Pinnacle state. One blow of Lin Han¡¯s sword was extremely terrifying and possessed great lethality. He removed all of the valuables from the cheetah such as its fur and claws before he continued on his journey into the Broken Sky Forest. Chapter 11 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Puff.¡± A ray sword light suddenly cut through the sky and chopped a black water python that was hovering over a tree into half. Its gall bladder was removed and off it went into the sack. Lin Han returned his sword into its scabbard and patted the big bag on his back. A joyous expression flashed across his eyes. Throughout all ten hours of the day, Lin Han did not let up in the slightest. He had murdered numerous beasts in Broken Sky Forest and captured a lot of materials. ¡°Aquamarine snake, fangs, snake gall bladder¡­ Five taels of gold¡­¡± ¡°Earth demonic bear, bear paws, fur, beast core¡­ That¡¯s around twenty taels of gold¡­¡± ¡°Wind thunder leopard, leopard skin, beast core ¡­ Thirty taels of gold ¡­¡± ¡­ Lin Han looked at the demonic beasts he had hunted and the materials accumulated. He counted them one by one and it came down to an amount of about four hundred taels of gold. He was only one hundred taels short. Besides, Lin Han had sharpened and improved his martial arts techniques greatly during the hunting process. He was now able to perform all thirteen steps of Thirteen Moving Dragon Steps and progressed it to the Pinnacle state. His Quick Draw Sword had also progressed into the Pinnacle state. Once the sword came out of its scabbard, a deafening rumble of the thunder followed and its destruction was massive. As for Thirteen Gleaming Swords, even though it was a set of high-grade sword martial arts, Lin Han had perfected it so that he could perform twelve sword moves consecutively in a row. He only needed to bring it up into the Pinnacle state to perform the thirteenth sword move. This was extremely mortifying. The people from Lin Clan Sect Residence would have their jaws dropped if they knew about this. Moreover, it had only been half a day since Lin Han acquired the cultivation method of the Thirteen Gleaming Swords. Even Lin Han exclaimed in admiration silently. In less than one day, he had perfected the set of sword skill that required others many years to achieve the Major Advancement state. It was pure evil. Once again, Lin Han was aghast at the Golden Spirit Fire he possessed in his mind. It had assisted him to elevate all of his martial qualities to a range that was way beyond the understanding of any ordinary martial arts Warrior. Then, just when Lin Han was ready to continue hunting for more demonic beasts to gather the remaining one hundred taels of gold, a morbid roar of a beast suddenly rang in the air from deep within the forest. ¡°Roar!¡± The roar of that beast sounded something like a mixture of a tiger and a dragon. The sound waves transmitted a powerful shockwave. Even though it came from a distance, it made the blood in Lin Han¡¯s body simmer. ¡°What a mighty spirit!¡± Lin Han was startled. Perhaps, a king-level beast had emerged from a place deep within Broken Sky Forest? ¡°Is that¡­¡± Almost simultaneously, an ancient beast the size of a small hill entered Lin Han¡¯s sight. He saw it ramming into the depths of the Broken Sky Forest like a savage king. Thanks to the transformation of the Golden Spirit Fire, Lin Han¡¯s vision became unbelievably strong. It was as if he could observe with clairvoyance. At this moment, he witnessed it with absolute clarity. Standing in the middle of countless ancient trees was that giant beast. It had the body of a tiger but the head of a dragon. There were two simple and unadorned-looking horns growing out of its head. ¡°Is that a xenogeneic demonic tiger that¡¯s inherited dragon blood ¡ª the legendary dragon-tiger beast?¡± A doubtful expression flashed across his face. Boom! The dragon-tiger beast seemed to have been seriously injured. Although it still appeared ferocious, its footsteps staggered from side to side, randomly trampling and crushing countless ancient trees in the forest. ¡°Leave immediately! This dragon-tiger beast has cultivated for hundreds of years. Its demonic strength is too powerful, almost comparable to that of an expert in martial arts fifth tier. It¡¯s invincible!¡± 2 Several people ran towards his direction from the distance and all of them looked terrified and frightened. One of them cried out to Lin Han when they ran past him. Although Lin Han nodded at the person¡¯s warning, he still stood right where he was, motionless. Due to his practice on the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, Lin Han was gifted with a kind of invisible coercion that could threaten beasts with dragon¡¯s blood running in them. Moreover, after the transformation of the Golden Spirit Fire, Lin Han¡¯s powerful perception made him aware that this dragon-tiger beast was seriously injured and its breath was weakening. This could be an opportunity for him to kill the ferocious dragon-tiger beast! If he managed to capture it, perhaps he would finally accumulate the rest of the hundred taels of gold. There might even be an excess after he was done. This dragon-tiger beast was a fierce, xenogeneic beast that came from deep within the forest. It could be sold at an absolute fortune because it was a rare and precious species. ¡°Run faster, Young Lady!¡± Right at this moment, a lightly armored young man among the running crowd suddenly shouted. ¡°Young Lady?¡± A curious expression hung on Lin Han¡¯s face as he looked into the distance. There, right in front of the giant sole of the dragon-tiger beast, a good-looking young lady dressed in blue was heading his way. She had performed the light-body skill that allowed her to glide through the air. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant.¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes brightened and immediately, he noticed the big ¡°Luo¡± character that was embroidered on her shirt. ¡°The Luo clan? Perhaps they¡¯re the disciples from Broken Sky City Governor¡¯s Residence? Young Lady¡­ Is it possible that she¡¯s the daughter of Governor Luo?¡± Fragments of messages appeared in Lin Han¡¯s mind and he immediately recognized the identity of these people. Boom! Boom! Boom¡­ The enormous dragon-tiger beast roared in the sky as it approached. Its ginormous soles sent massive vibrations into the ground. Even a martial arts Grandmaster would be squashed into mud if they were trampled over by the soles of those giant feet. ¡®The Governor¡¯s daughter has outstanding skills. She could escape from the massive soles of that dragon-tiger beast each time at a really close distance; it¡¯s amazing.¡¯ Lin Han analyzed secretly. Bang! However, the dragon-tiger beast was too violent. Suddenly, the beast roared and the gush of air that spewed out of its mouth, like a pillar, instantly hit the lady in blue. ¡°Puff.¡± The lady in blue turned pale before she was suddenly flung upwards into the air and some fresh blood spat out from her mouth. ¡°Young Lady!¡± The young disciples were furious and they glared at the dragon-tiger beast but they also felt a sense of weakness and helplessness. ¡°Roar!¡± The dragon-tiger beast¡¯s piercing eyes were fierce. Then, the humongous beast roared again. Its massive mouth was wide open, it was as if it wanted to devour the lady in blue who fell to the ground. Right at that moment. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± A green silhouette suddenly appeared in the sky. As a ray of sword-light flashed from his hand, a clap of thunder exploded from the void. 1 ¡°Puff.¡± In the next second, the sword-light tore a piece of that giant¡¯s flesh open and a gush of fresh blood oozed out from it. ¡°Roar!¡± The humongous beast felt great pain and started to howl miserably. The lady in blue took advantage of that moment and immediately fled the scene, despite being covered in injuries. It was only until now that the young disciples noticed that young swordsman dressed in blue who was standing not far away from them. ¡°This massive beast belongs to me now.¡± Lin Han uttered slowly. The longsword in his hand trembled and his twinge of sword intent surged into the sky. Now that he was facing the dragon-tiger beast all by himself, Lin Han could feel nothing apart from his blood boiling underneath his skin. Lin Han¡¯s heart was restless at this moment. It seemed like there was something he really yearned for from this dragon-tiger beast. Exactly, it was a kind of yearning, or perhaps one could even call it greed! ¡°It¡¯s the effect coming from the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor! That¡¯s right, a trace of the ancient dragon¡¯s blood runs inside of this dragon-tiger beast. Maybe some incredible changes will happen if I refine its dragon blood and incorporate it into my body.¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes twinkled with brilliance and his eyes burned with passion as he looked at the massive dragon-tiger beast. It seemed like he was fated to kill this massive beast. The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor was Lin Han¡¯s biggest secret. Something that made it thirst must be of great help to himself. ¡°Roar!¡± Just then, the dragon-tiger beast that had been torn apart by Lin Han¡¯s sword seemed to have felt the majesty of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. It roared in horror and started to run into the distance. ¡°You can¡¯t escape now!¡± Lin Han yelled loudly. This dragon-tiger beast would be a great boon to him so he would never let it escape just like that. ¡°Thirteen Moving Dragon Steps!¡± Lin Han employed his martial arts skills. His body wandered around like a dragon and instantaneously sprinted into the distance in pursuit. Chapter 12 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Who was that blue-robed swordsman? He¡¯s so young, but his sword technique was so powerful.¡± ¡°His robe is emblazoned with the word ¡®Lin¡¯. He might be a young talent from the Lin Clan Sect Residence in Broken Sky City.¡± ¡°Eldest Miss, what do you think?¡± At this point, several Governor¡¯s Residence disciples calmed themselves and started to speculate. Eldest Miss, that was the girl in blue. She was the daughter of Broken Sky City¡¯s Governor, Luo Qingcheng. The young girl raised her thin eyebrows and said softly, ¡°That person¡¯s martial art movements were strong and not inferior to mine. He also wasn¡¯t afraid of the dragon-tiger beast and one swing of his sword was as if thunder and lightning exploded. He¡¯s a master swordsman.¡± It was clear that the Governor¡¯s daughter, Luo Qingcheng¡¯s regard of Lin Han was very high. However, several people scoffed at this. ¡°Cousin, you don¡¯t have to praise that boy so much. We were the ones who lured the dragon-tiger beast out, and we were also the ones to deal a heavy blow to the beast using the Governor¡¯s Residence special hidden weapons. That Lin Clan Sect Residence boy might have been lurking in the dark for a while and merely profited from our work.¡± A young man dressed in black suddenly said coldly. ¡°Eldest Brother Luo Feiyu is right, that Lin Clan brat is just a thief. We can¡¯t let his evil schemes succeed. Let¡¯s hurry. The dragon-tiger beast belongs to our Governor¡¯s Residence!¡± Several young disciples echoed. ¡°In any case, he saved my life earlier. If you dare to cause trouble without reason, don¡¯t blame me for being merciless.¡± Luo Qingcheng suddenly spoke out. Her feminine voice carried an air of authority, causing all the Governor¡¯s Residence disciples present to shut their mouths immediately after. Even Luo Feiyu¡¯s expression froze. Luo Qingcheng was the Governor¡¯s daughter and naturally held the highest status among all of them. Once she spoke, no one dared to say anything to refute her. However, a trace of jealousy and malice flashed past the corner of Luo Feiyu¡¯s eyes when he heard Luo Qingcheng¡¯s words. 1 At the same time, at another place. Boom! Not only was the huge dragon-tiger beast severely injured, but it was also being pursued by Lin Han. Now, it was finally overwhelmed before it fell to the ground like a collapsing hill. Lin Han had chased it deep into the forest. When Lin Han looked around and saw no one around him, his gaze burned as he stared at the dragon-tiger beast lying on the ground. ¡°Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor!¡± Boom! At this time, Lin Han no longer suppressed the power of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor in his body as he pressed a palm on the head of the dragon-tiger beast¡¯s corpse. ¡°Hum¡±. A drop of golden blood floated out from the dragon-tiger beast¡¯s body and was devoured by the power of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, assimilating directly into Lin Han¡¯s body. That drop of blood was the origin dragon blood contained in the dragon-tiger beast¡¯s body. ¡°Boom¡±. In an instant, Lin Han realized that his consciousness had once again arrived at the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind. What greeted his eyes was the same vast and boundless ancient land from before¡­ At the end of the earth stood a magnificent and heroic figure. His body was covered with a stream of golden light, and every inch of his body, flesh, and bones blossomed with golden divine light. Immortal divine power flowed in his body, his Qi and blood exuberant, like a sacred furnace that stood for eons, never burning out. Boom. The next moment, the figure suddenly turned around and pointed before a stream of divine light instantly hit Lin Han¡¯s consciousness. ¡°Ah!¡± A great pain appeared in his mind. Lin Han roared in pain as his body broke out in cold sweat. He then opened his eyes and found that his consciousness had returned to his body. However, he had gained some extra memories. It was an introduction to an ancient physique. ¡°The Dragon Emperor Combat Body, merging ichor with dragon blood, tempering the skeleton with dragon bone, refining the flesh with dragon essence, and achieving immortality¡­¡± Feeling the extra information in his memory, Lin Han was overjoyed. Sure enough, after cultivating the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, his physique had been transformed and evolved towards a greater lifeform. It was the ancient first physique that was in his memory, the Dragon Emperor Combat Body! Lin Han sat down and activated the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, and found that the speed in which it devoured the world¡¯s spiritual energy was nearly twice as fast. Bang! Lin Han stood up and thrust out his palm again. He used the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor to increase the potency of the Moving Dragon Palm. With that, he could instantly feel that the offensive power was at least twice as strong as before. In other words¡­ The drop of dragon blood earlier had activated the cultivation of the Dragon Emperor Combat Body¡¯s physique. Furthermore, the two abilities of the Dragon Emperor Combat Body were clearly shown too. First, when cultivating, the speed in which the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor devoured the world spiritual energy had increased by two-fold. Second, the power of all sorts of martial arts, which could be called their actual overall battle strength, was doubled. ¡°The Dragon Emperor Combat Body is really incredible.¡± Lin Han was overjoyed as he said to himself, ¡°If I keep looking for bones and blood from the ancient dragon race, then I might be able to evolve the Dragon Emperor Combat Body again. That might make my cultivation speed and fighting power double, triple, or even increase by tens or dozens of times!¡± Thinking about this, even the usual calm in Lin Han¡¯s eyes flashed with shock. This¡­ This was an ability that was almost otherworldly! Thump thump thump¡­ Suddenly, a burst of footsteps sounded not far away. A group of young disciples emerged from the surrounding mountain forest. Lin Han looked over and saw that it was the Governor¡¯s Residence disciples from before. ¡°Brother Lin, we took great pains to lure and injure this dragon-tiger beast. Although it was killed by Brother Lin, you¡¯re taking advantage of us. We don¡¯t mean any harm and only hope to share this dragon-tiger beast with Brother Lin.¡± Dressed in blue, Luo Qingcheng looked graceful. She walked up to Lin Han and smiled before pointing out her purpose in a straightforward manner. As she spoke, the Governor¡¯s Residence disciples behind her watched Lin Han warily. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll share.¡± However, to everyone¡¯s surprise, Lin Han agreed directly with a smile. Lin Han, though, felt nothing out of the ordinary. First, the Governor¡¯s daughter was telling the truth. If this dragon-tiger beast was in peak condition, Lin Han would not be able to slay it even if he duplicated himself. Second, the dragon-tiger beast¡¯s most precious origin dragon blood had already been devoured by him and assimilated into his body, improving his physique. In other words, he had already gained the largest benefit he could. Third, the dragon-tiger beast¡¯s carcass was too large. Even if Lin Han wanted to monopolize it, he would not be able to take it away. It was better to agree to their request. After all, the Governor¡¯s Residence position in Broken Sky City was equally matched with the Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°Brother Lin is indeed generous!¡± Luo Qingcheng thought that there would be a war with words, but seeing how Lin Han agreed so simply, her beautiful eyes flashed with a smile. ¡°Hm?¡± However, at that moment, Lin Han suddenly felt a cold aura lock onto him. As his perception was extremely powerful, he instantly saw the young man at the back, standing behind Luo Qingcheng, looking at him. The man¡¯s eyes were full of cold jealousy. ¡®Did I offend this stranger?¡¯ Lin Han felt somewhat perplexed but paid it no mind. After using the Dragon Emperor Combat Body, Lin Han¡¯s capabilities could be doubled at any time. As long as he did not encounter masters at the fifth tier or higher, he was not afraid of anyone. Lin Han could sense that this young man in black only had cultivation at the fourth tier. Since he could easily kill the young man, there was nothing to worry about. Then, Lin Han received half of the valuable materials from the dragon-tiger beast. If he sold everything, it would definitely exceed three hundred and twenty tales of gold. Lin Han smiled in his heart. With this, he had fulfilled his initial objective in entering the forest. ¡°Miss Luo, I shall take my leave here.¡± Lin Han did not tarry and fist saluted. Carrying his sword, he turned to leave, his figure soon disappearing into the forest. ¡°Lin Gutian of the Lin Clan Sect Residence is one of the ¡®Five Blessings¡¯ of our Broken Sky City. I heard that his martial arts has already reached the sixth tier, the top level of a Master. This Young Master Lin might be the next Lin Gutian,¡± Luo Qingcheng said out loud, her tone carrying some lament. What? The Eldest Miss¡¯s evaluation of that boy was that high?! All the Governor¡¯s Residence disciples looked shocked. However, at this time, no one noticed that in the crowd, Luo Feiyu was staring at the direction where Lin Han¡¯s back disappeared. His eyes were dark, but a cruel sneer appeared on his face. 1 Chapter 13 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Half an hour later, Lin Han, carrying a huge bulging bag, walked out of Broken Sky Forest. He reaped a great harvest this time. However, the most important thing now was to buy the ¡®Element Condensing Pill¡¯ and make a breakthrough to the fourth tier in his cultivation, condense the True Element, and become a real Master. ¡°Stop!¡± However, just as Lin Han was about to leave the forest, a cold shout suddenly sounded. Three figures stood at the entrance to Broken Sky Forest. The one in the middle was dressed in black and stared at Lin Han coldly while approaching him. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Lin Han raised his eyebrows. The young man in black in the middle was the Governor¡¯s Residence disciple whom he had previously sensed hostility from. ¡°This person is the elder cousin of our Governor¡¯s Residence Eldest Miss, Luo Feiyu. Boy, you should know what we want.¡± ¡°Hand over your half of the materials from the dragon-tiger beast, and we¡¯ll let you go.¡± The two Governor¡¯s Residence disciples beside the young man in black said coldly, their tone impatient. ¡°Luo Feiyu? Never heard of him.¡± Lin Han shook his head indifferently. ¡°You¡­¡± Hearing Lin Han¡¯s response, the two disciples immediately grew furious. ¡°Stop speaking nonsense.¡± Luo Feiyu spoke. He looked at Lin Han, eyes clouded, and said fiercely, ¡°I wondered how strong you were, but it turns out that you¡¯re only a third tier martial arts trash. You¡¯re just a worm that can be easily killed in my eyes.¡± ¡°So, I¡¯m now ordering you to hand over all your belongings and kowtow to me. If you do that, I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Luo Feiyu¡¯s tone was extremely cold. It too carried a hint of jealousy and killing intent. ¡°That¡¯s right! Get down on your knees and kowtow to apologize!¡± ¡°Boy, you¡¯re really bold to try to rob what belongs to our Governor¡¯s Residence. You¡¯re asking for death!¡± The two third tier disciples beside Luo Feiyu chimed one after another. Their eyes flashed maliciously as if they wanted nothing more than to kill Lin Han if he so much as spoke. ¡°What if I say no?¡± Lin Han suddenly said, his tone still indifferent. ¡°Then you¡¯ll die!¡± Luo Feiyu¡¯s killing intent surged as he instantly burst up. The True Element in his body suddenly broke out. ¡°Majestic Golden Sun Cover!¡± Boom! Luo Feiyu immediately used a rare defensive martial arts skill and a golden light began to shine around his body. Dong! The next moment, heavy and unadorned golden bell condensed with True Element suddenly shrouded his entire body. The bell was engraved with a sun that gradually rose, and it possessed strong offensive and defensive capabilities. ¡°Hahaha! Senior Brother Luo Feiyu used this high-level martial art. No matter how strong this boy¡¯s sword technique is, he can¡¯t break the defense of Senior Brother Luo Feiyu¡¯s Golden Sun Cover.¡± The two Governor¡¯s Residence disciples who followed Luo Feiyu burst out laughing. They watched Lin Han with mocking eyes. ¡°Trash like you aren¡¯t worthy of making me draw my sword!¡± The next moment, Lin Han snorted coldly, but the expressions of the three people who were facing him all twisted. ¡°Die, you brat! Cousin Qingcheng only belongs to me!¡± Luo Feiyu roared loudly. A new kind of killing intent had seeped into his voice. 1 He was covered in an ancient gold-colored bell, his aura profound. He stepped towards Lin Han in an instant, as if wanting to crush Lin Han to death under the gigantic golden bell. ¡°Moving Dragon Palm!¡± ¡°Dragon Emperor Combat Body!¡± Boom! Terrifying power surged from Lin Han¡¯s body. At this moment, using the Dragon Emperor Combat Body, his combat power instantly doubled. The Moving Dragon Palm also exploded with terrifying destructive power. In an instant, Lin Han slapped out three palms. Bang! The first palm. The Majestic Golden Sun Cover shook violently. Crack! The second palm. The Majestic Golden Sun Cover instantly broke apart, and Luo Feiyu¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. Bang! The third palm. With the roar of a dragon, an illusory dragon head condensed from True Chi appeared in Lin Han¡¯s palm and hit Luo Feiyu¡¯s terrified face. ¡°Pfff.¡± Luo Feiyu¡¯s head was smashed open by Lin Han¡¯s palm. Blood and flesh splattered out as he died instantly. With just three palms, he killed Luo Feiyu. Lin Han had never been soft on his enemies. Since Luo Feiyu seemed to resent him, keeping him alive would lead to disaster. At this point, the remaining two Governor¡¯s Residence disciples looked dumbfounded. This explosive force! This destructive power! It was too terrifying! At this time, they could not help but think of their Eldest Miss¡¯s words. ¡°This Young Master Lin might become the next Lin Gutian¡­¡± Thinking about this, the two disciples immediately started to shake violently. ¡°Mercy!¡± ¡°Young Master Lin, we were wrong! We shouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± Clang! A glint of a sword suddenly cut the air, like thunder exploding. ¡°Thump, thump.¡± The next moment, two heads were decapitated instantly and it fell away from their bodies. ¡°Since you wanted to kill me, you should be prepared to meet the same fate.¡± Lin Han smiled 2 coldly. He had no pity for the three corpses on the ground. Lin Han found many taels of silver as well as medicinal materials from the corpses. It could be considered to be a lot of wealth. However, what delighted Lin Han the most was that he found an ancient book on Luo Feiyu¡¯s body. It was the ¡®Majestic Golden Sun Cover¡¯ which he had used earlier. Lin Han looked at it carefully and saw that it was a high-grade defensive martial art. ¡°This martial art was found on Luo Feiyu¡¯s body. So it seems like I can¡¯t easily use it in the future. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be troublesome if the people from the Governor¡¯s Residence find out.¡± Lin Han thought for a moment silently before he turned to leave. The murder of a few people in this remote mountain forest would surely go unnoticed. 2 Night gradually fell. Lin Han carried a big bag and finally returned to Broken Sky City. In the city, in a pavilion that purchased materials from demonic beasts. When Lin Han took out all the demonic beast materials in the large bag, everyone was shocked. Did this juvenile youth really hunt for this pile of demonic beast materials? In the end, under the envious eyes of all, Lin Han sold all the materials and earned seven hundred taels of gold. This delighted Lin Han. It seems that hunting in the forest was a good way to get rich. However, the most important thing was that he did get a lucky break this time and just happened to kill a seriously wounded dragon-tiger beast. That night, Lin Han went and bought the ¡®Element Condensing Pill¡¯ before he rushed back to the Lin Clan Sect Residence. He slammed the door shut and began to make a breakthrough. Rumble! A sparkling medicinal pill the size of a longan, which emitted a herbal scent, appeared in Lin Han¡¯s hands. He swallowed the pill. ¡°Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor!¡± Boom! An illusory furnace appeared in Lin Han¡¯s dantian and it wildly devoured the surrounding world spiritual energy. The powerful medicinal strength of the Element Condensing Pill, as well as the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor¡¯s swift absorption of world spiritual energy, caused Lin Han¡¯s body, bones, flesh, and True Chi to undergo an incredible transformation. Lin Han spent the entire night breaking through. The second day. ¡°Boom.¡± A terrifying aura broke out from Lin Han¡¯s body and spread to his surroundings. The tables and chairs around him were instantly shattered. He quickly stood up and when he clenched his fist, he felt a new kind of powerful energy flowing and roaring in his body. Lin Han immediately saw that all the True Chi in his dantian had completely condensed into True Element. He had stepped into the fourth martial tier, the boundary of a Master. Next, he just had to continue accumulating True Element and head for the seventh tier ¡ª Grandmaster. ¡°The Art of the Ancient Dragon Empire is indeed powerful. It can absorb the medicinal properties of the Element Consolidating Pill to the greatest extent, and let me break through successfully!¡± Lin Han looked slightly excited. Creak! He pushed open the door, feeling refreshed. The next moment, he walked straight towards the center of the Lin Clan Sect Residence. His eyes were bright and full of energy. Today was the day to sign up for the Outer Residence contest. Chapter 14 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Today was the day to register for the Outer Residence contest. Lin Han went out and walked straight to the registration area, which was at the center of the Lin Clan Sect Residence, between the Outer and Inner Residences. Only by entering the top twenty-five in the Outer Residence contest would he be qualified to participate in the clan¡¯s Martial Arts Tea Party five days later. He would fight against the Outer Residence disciples, win against them, and become a new Inner Residence disciple. ¡°I¡¯ve stepped into the fourth tier and condensed True Element. I should be the best in the Outer Residence now. Moreover, my insight has reached the Pinnacle level for several martial arts, and with the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor which can double my fighting prowess, my true battle capabilities should be no less than the fifth tier.¡± Along the way, Lin Han quietly analyzed his own strength. He even secretly compared himself to Lin Ruyan and Lin Juedao, the top talents in the Outer Residence. Lin Han passed through the Outer Residence courtyard and the combat arena. Several Outer Residence disciples who saw Lin Han began to whisper to each other. After all, Lin Han had gained a slight reputation in the Outer Residence by crippling Lin Shi twice and killing Lin Jian, the top swordsman in the Outer Residence. That day Lin Han killed Lin Jian, the most beautiful girl in the Outer Residence, Lin Ruyan, had whispered in his ear. It made others wonder whether Lin Han had any relationships with her. ¡°What a powerful aura. Did Lin Han breakthrough again?¡± ¡°The last time I saw him, he was only at the third tier. Could it be that he has broken through to the fourth tier, condensed True Element, and became a true Master in just a few days? He¡¯s like a demon.¡± Many Outer Sect main division disciples around watched Lin Han walk over with terrified eyes. To them, Lin Han was a malefic presence in the Outer Residence. No one dared to provoke him. However, some people secretly sneered at him in jealousy. ¡°It¡¯s the taller trees in the woods that get their tops blown off. Someone will eventually teach this subdivision boy a lesson.¡± ¡­ Lin Han chose to ignore the fear, suspicion, and jealousy of the Outer Residence main division disciples. He walked slowly while he wore an indifferent expression. The tough will he had honed over the years, coupled with the burning Golden Spirit Flame had strengthened Lin Han¡¯s heart. His mood would not fluctuate just because of some words from some outsiders. Half an hour later, Lin Han arrived at the junction of the Inner and Outer Residences. There, in a large hall, were hundreds of people. They were all Outer Residence disciples who had come to sign up. In the hall sat several leaders of the Lin Clan Sect Residence who were in charge of registration for the Outer Residence contest. Lin Han stepped forward and stood in line quietly. He had thought that the contest would begin when the registration ended that day, but he found out from some Outer Residence disciples that today was only for registration, and the true contest would begin tomorrow. To this, Lin Han did not mind. After he finished registering, he still had a day¡¯s worth of free time. So, Lin Han prepared to start cultivating the ¡®Majestic Golden Sun Cover¡¯ that he obtained from Luo Feiyu. With his powerful talent that was transformed by the Golden Spirit Fire, Lin Han was very confident that he would be able to cultivate the Majestic Golden Sun Cover, a high-grade martial art, to the Minor Advancement realm in a day. Time flew, and half an hour passed. The line finally reached Lin Han. ¡°Kid, get out of the way!¡± Suddenly, a rude voice sounded behind Lin Han. Lin Han¡¯s brows wrinkled as he turned to look behind. There, a fierce-looking young man stood arrogantly. ¡°Get out of the way if you have tact. Let me register first!¡± the young man said fiercely with a tone of impatience. After he spoke, some of the registered disciples around shrank back and silently made way. The fierce-looking young man seemed to be famous in the Outer Residence. Martial arts fourth tier, beginner level Master. Lin Han immediately perceived the young man¡¯s cultivation boundary. However, this young man had a strange layer of light surrounding him that seemed to have a special power. Yet, Lin Han had now stepped into the fourth tier and he already dared to fight with an intermediate fifth tier Master, much less this fourth tier young man behind him. A cold sneer flashed in Lin Han¡¯s eyes before he turned around and continued to queue, ignoring the young man. ¡°Oh no, that boy is going to suffer. Lin Sha is the tenth strongest in our Outer Residence, and his martial arts cultivation has reached the fourth tier.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Everyone in the Outer Residence knows who Lin Sha is. He¡¯s a vicious person who¡¯s extremely frightening when fighting. Moreover, he cultivates a powerful high-grade technique, called the ¡®Blood Fiend Devil Technique¡¯. When fighting against it, the opponent would be affected, and their minds would be consumed by demonic energy.¡± At this moment, many disciples talked amongst each other. It was as if they already saw the tragic death of a ¡®nameless boy¡¯ like Lin Han. ¡°You dare ignore me? You¡¯re courting death!¡± Lin Sha was born with an explosive temper. Seeing Lin Han turn around with no intention of getting out of the way, Lin Sha¡¯s eyes immediately became ferocious. ¡°Blood Fiend Devil Claw. Get on your knees!¡± Lin Sha roared. A reddish vicious spirit suddenly dispersed from his eyes. Those that met his gaze instantly felt a devil eroding their minds. ¡°Scram!¡± However, at this moment, Lin Han suddenly turned around and ordered coldly. There was a golden gleam in his eyes, and in that golden light, the will of the Dragon Emperor roared. The blood-colored vicious spirit had no influence on Lin Han at all. ¡°Bang.¡± The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor had bestowed upon Lin Han powerful physical strength. With just a simple punch, he sent Lin Sha flying. ¡°Ah!¡± The display of his strength caused Lin Sha¡¯s expression to change. As his body was thrown into the air, he could not help but spit out a mouthful of blood. How powerful! How overbearing! With just a single punch, Lin Sha was immediately sent flying. ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°He sent the tenth strongest in the Outer Residence flying with a single punch. He¡¯s too terrifying!¡± At this time, the countless disciples who were registering all looked at the unmoving young man in blue, completely shocked. Many people lamented inwardly. Sure enough, whenever an Outer Residence contest was approaching, there would be one or several dark horses who suddenly jumped out among the hundreds of disciples in the Outer Residence. This young man dressed in blue was obviously one prominent one. Lin Sha was really unlucky. The contest had not even started, but he had already suffered a loss. ¡°If you try that again, I¡¯ll cripple you!¡± When Lin Han was finished registering, he spat coldly at Lin Sha who was lying blankly on the ground. Then, he turned and left. In an instant, he disappeared under everyone¡¯s fearful eyes. ¡­ Soon, Lin Han returned to his residence. At this time, dawn had just broken. The little maid, Xiao Nu, held a basin of water as usual and walked over from afar. However, Lin Han dragged her into the room and pulled out a thick pile of gold notes. ¡°So many gold notes? Young Master, you¡­¡± Seeing the pile of gold notes on the table, the little maid was so surprised that she could not close her mouth. Her expression was exceedingly cute. ¡°Keep these gold notes. You¡¯ve suffered a lot over the past year, Xiao Nu. Now that Young Master has money, just take it and splurge.¡± Lin Han rubbed the little maid¡¯s black hair and smiled at the gold notes on the table. 2 ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re so kind!¡± The little maid had never seen so many gold notes before. Her black eyes flashed with excitement, and she could not help but reach up and stick her delicate little mouth on her Young Master¡¯s face to give him a good kiss. Lin Han only laughed in response. These gold notes were useless to the current Lin Han, but Xiao Nu had worked hard while she took care of him for so many years. This was something that she deserved. Creak! After closing the door, Lin Han sat cross-legged in the room and took out a martial arts book. It was the ¡®Majestic Golden Sun Cover¡¯. He would take advantage of the last day to study this rare high-grade defense-type martial art. Lin Han was very clear that if he could reach Minor Advancement, he would find success in the Martial Arts Tea Party, much less the Outer Residence contest. Chapter 15 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Condense the True Element in the body into the Majestic Golden Sun. After reaching the Minor Advancement boundary, the hardness of the cover would be comparable to low-grade weapons, and mid-grade weapons in the Major Advancement realm. At the Pinnacle, it will be comparable to high-grade weapons¡­¡± Looking at the introduction in the book, Lin Han looked a little ecstatic. This Golden Sun Cover was indeed a high-grade martial art. The hardness of the cover at the Pinnacle could actually be comparable to that of a high-grade weapon. After all, the longsword that Lin Han had won from Lin Jian was only a low-grade weapon, but it was already worth a thousand taels of gold. ¡°As expected, high-grade martial arts really have great power. I wonder how terrifying top-grade martial arts are, as well as those that surpass top-grade martial arts¡­ Natural martial arts!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes flashed slightly. Natural martial arts were powerful martial arts that only martial Grandmasters could use. They had incomparable destructive power and might. That was because natural martial arts was something that could only be cultivated and understood by powerful existences that surpassed the ninth tier. However, it was a mystery whether there was a being who surpassed the ninth tier in the entire Yan Kingdom, much less in the small Broken Sky City. Nevertheless, Lin Han was very clear that there must be someone who surpassed the ninth tier in the vast Lingwu Continent. For example, in the ancient land he glimpsed at from the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind, there were countless ancient and terrifying creatures, and the strong gathered like clouds. There were supreme Devils and Demons who roared at the skies and shook the nine heavenly stars. There were almighty humans who could shatter the universe into pieces with just a wave of a hand. 1 Those unfathomable realms were like gods who possessed great power. Ye Chen wondered how many times stronger they were compared to the ninth tier! 1 However, to Lin Han now, those were still legends. So, he left behind the unrealistic thoughts in his mind and began to study the high-grade ¡®Majestic Golden Sun Cover¡¯ in his hands. ¡­ Lin Han spent the entire morning in the room. ¡°Boom.¡± Suddenly, at some point, Lin Han stood up and raised his hands. His body began to blossom with a miraculous golden light. After the golden light flashed, it slowly condensed into a golden bell around Lin Han¡¯s body, like flowing water. It was heavy and old, and the body of the bell was marked with a giant sun, rising up with extraordinary momentum. Dong! Lin Han lifted the golden bell and flung it towards the house, causing the entire mud-and-stone building shook violently. ¡°Haha, sure enough, in just half a day, I¡¯ve already reached the Minor Advancement boundary for the Majestic Golden Sun Cover. The golden cover formed initially can be comparable to a low-grade weapon.¡± A smile flashed past Lin Han¡¯s face. If he had the Majestic Golden Sun Cover when hunting for the dragon-tiger beast, he would not have had to be so scared. The dragon-tiger beast would not be able to trample over him. ¡°Phew!¡± With a long sigh of relief, Lin Han slowly stopped, and the golden bell dissipated. At this time, Lin Han had strong confidence in the Outer Residence contest tomorrow. Bang bang bang! However, at this moment, a series of sharp knocks suddenly sounded. ¡°Hey! What are you¡­¡± Xiao Nu¡¯s slightly frightened voice sounded from outside the door. ¡°Xiao Nu!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes flashed darkly. Who was it? Who dared to cause trouble at his residence? Bang! Lin Han walked straight towards the door and pushed open the wooden gate. He immediately saw Xiao Nu surrounded by several young men who did not let her leave. ¡°You again?¡± Lin Han instantly saw Lin Shi, the main division disciple who had been crippled by him twice before. The noise here had attracted many Outer Residence disciples around them. ¡°That Lin Shi had been crippled by Lin Han twice already, but still dares to challenge him?¡± ¡°What do you know? Lin Shi is prepared this time. Can¡¯t you see the confidence on his face? It seems like he has a plan.¡± Speculation flashed in their expressions as they commented. ¡°What business do you have here?¡± Lin Han frowned and spoke slowly. If it were not for the fact that this was the Lin Clan Sect Residence, he would have killed Lin Shi long ago. ¡®Brat, you¡¯re still putting on an act. I¡¯ll let you suffer a fate worse than death later!¡¯ Lin Shi thought darkly in his heart but put on a ¡®warm¡¯ face as a front. ¡°My Eldest Brother invites you to the combat arena for a duel.¡± When he spoke, the surrounding crowd suddenly turned quiet before the conversations began to boil again. ¡°Lin Shi¡¯s Eldest Brother, Lin Lang? He wants to duel with this subdivision disciple Lin Han?¡± ¡°Lin Lang is the seventh strongest disciple in our Outer Residence. If Lin Han accepts the challenge, won¡¯t he die miserably?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. Lin Has has also broken through to martial arts fourth tier. It¡¯s still a mystery as to who will emerge victorious.¡± ¡°Lin Lang is a veteran in the Outer Residence after all. Moreover, the brothers have a deep background. Their father, Lin Wuya, is said to be an influential Elder in the higher-ups of the Sect. The reason why Lin Lang is so strong is mostly likely because Lin Wuya taught him many powerful martial arts.¡± ¡­ ¡°Lin Lang?¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes flashed. He had heard of this name before. Li Lang was the seventh strongest disciple in the Outer Residence. Lin Han did not say anything else. He simply walked out of the house and headed towards a certain direction. ¡°Why, scared to fight against my Eldest Brother?¡± Lin Shi looked at Lin Han¡¯s back and immediately mocked. He was really worried that Lin Han would not accept the challenge. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that the duel would be at the combat arena?¡± Lin Han¡¯s voice said. Lin Shi¡¯s expression froze before he came back to his senses. The direction Lin Han was walking towards was the Sect¡¯s combat arena. ¡°Good boy. This time, you¡¯ll definitely meet a tragic end.¡± A malicious shadow flashed in Lin Shi¡¯s eyes as he muttered to himself. Lin Han¡¯s domineering response shocked all the Outer Residence disciples around him. This Lin Han. Was he really going to accept it? Was he truly not afraid of death? A group of Outer Residence disciples followed behind Lin Han, wanting to witness the coming battle. Along the way, Lin Han walked in front while a large gaggle of Outer Residence disciples followed from behind. This vast array attracted the attention of everyone on the road. Among them were many powerful Outer Residence disciples, including the top disciple Lin Tian, the third-ranked Lin Ruyan, and the fourth-ranked Lin Juedao¡­ All of them noticed the movements going on and looked at Lin Han in surprise. In a short while, the crowd arrived at the combat arena. Currently, a thin figure stood on the huge limestone stage. His face was naturally cold, and his eyes were sharp like knives, pinning onto Lin Han who was slowly walking over. Lin Lang! The seventh-ranked disciple of the Outer Residence! The crowd felt their hearts stutter. The forceful True Element on Lin Lang¡¯s body was terrifying. He had definitely stepped into the advanced level of the fourth tier and was at least an Advanced Master. ¡°You¡¯re the subdivision brat, Lin Han?¡± Lin Lang said, his tone lofty and arrogant. ¡°You¡¯re the main division brat, Lin Lang?¡± Lin Han¡¯s voice also rang out. He smiled coldly at Lin Lang and responded the same way. ¡°You¡­¡± Suddenly, Lin Lang¡¯s eyes flashed. As if he thought of something, a cruel smile spread across his mouth. He said fiercely, ¡°Since you dared to come, I¡¯ll teach you a good lesson. Although this is only the Outer Residence of the Lin Clan Sect, it¡¯s not a place where a lowly subdivision worm like you can be arrogant in!¡± Chapter 16 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Lang¡¯s aura was strong. At this time, the forceful True Element in his body was released, making many Outer Residence disciples around feel a faint sense of oppression. ¡°Boom.¡± However, an equally strong aura also burst out from Lin Han¡¯s body. It was the aura of someone in the fourth-tier! This scene immediately made many disciples around grow shocked. What? Lin Han broke through again? He was now at the fourth tier! ¡°What terrifying talent. What adventures did Lin Han go on?¡± ¡°In the past year, he didn¡¯t even break through the first tier, but now, he¡¯s breaking through again and again. Has he been hiding his strength just to soar in the Outer Residence competition this time?¡± Several Outer Residence main disciples started to speculate. Their eyes showed hints of surprise and uncertainty. ¡°He¡­ He actually broke through to the fourth tier?!¡± Currently, the person who was the most horrified was a young woman wearing red who stood not far away. It was Lin Meier! ¡°How is that possible¡­ Lin Han, he¡­ How could he have broken through to the fourth tier¡­¡± For the first time, a kind of fear appeared in Lin Meier¡¯s charming eyes. She had been avoiding this childhood sweetheart all this time, but he had unexpectedly surpassed her countless times. As if sensing the change in Lin Meier¡¯s mood, beside her, Lin Juedao¡¯s lips twisted in disdain. ¡°No genius can break through continuously in such a short period of time. Lin Han is definitely using medicinal pills that harm others without benefiting himself to forcefully increase his cultivation. This method is like killing the goose to get the eggs. There¡¯s no need to be afraid!¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Lin Meier looked at the figure dressed in blue who was standing on the combat arena not far away, and her expression became unpleasant. ¡°I¡¯ll make him die miserably in the Outer Residence contest.¡± Lin Juedao watched Lin Han viciously. At this time, Lin Han also revealed his own martial arts boundary, causing many others to sit up and take notice of him. Among them included the great beauty, Lin Ruyan. She was recognized by the Outer Residence as a blessed girl from Heaven. Among the hundreds of disciples in the Outer Residence, she ranked third and was extremely powerful. On that day when Lin Han sealed Lin Jian¡¯s throat with a sword, it made the blessed girl from Heaven pay close attention to him. In particular, knowing Lin Han¡¯s ¡®miserable past¡¯ for the past year made Lin Ruyan even more curious. Just what changes had occurred to have made this little subdivision disciple suddenly rise to power and become the biggest dark horse in the Outer Residence this year? ¡°Interesting.¡± The top-ranked disciple, Lin Tian looked at the two people facing off in the distance, and a strange flash also flickered in his eyes. Currently, on the combat arena. ¡°Go ahead, or you won¡¯t have the chance to anymore.¡± Lin Lang suddenly said with a cold tone. His eyes flashed fiercely as he stared intently at Lin Han. After he spoke, Lin Lang slightly bent his body. The True Element in his body diffused outside, and a faint illusion of a fierce tiger appeared around his body. ¡°The Fierce Tiger Blood Fiend Technique!¡± a disciple exclaimed in shock. ¡°Rumor has it that when Lin Lang was young, he swallowed a strange elixir called the ¡®Tiger King Grass¡¯. Ever since then, he possessed the power of a ferocious tiger in his blood. It¡¯s extremely compatible with the Fierce Tiger Blood Fiend Technique. His combat prowess is very powerful.¡± ¡°It looks like it¡¯ll be hard for Lin Han to get out of this alive.¡± The disciples whispered to each other. In the combat arena, Lin Han¡¯s eyebrows were raised. Lin Lang did indeed have some skills. With this kind of forceful aura, he had most likely reached the peak of the fourth tier, and was about to step into the fifth tier. However, Lin Han remained fearless. In the world of his will, a Golden Azure Dragon roared. The might of the Dragon Emperor suppressed everything; a fierce tiger was just another fish in the sea. ¡°Fierce Tiger Blood Fiend, First Style!¡± Lin Lang suddenly moved. His spine arched as he lunged toward Lin Han, like a mountain tiger hunting its prey. The ferocity was terrifying. ¡°Moving Dragon Palm!¡± Lin Han suddenly gave a low shout and pressed his palm out. Roar! It seemed like the faint sound of a dragon roaring was heard. On Lin Han¡¯s arm, True Element condensed into the form of an Azure Dragon. The might of the dragon covered the skies and instantly shot towards Lin Lang. The tiger hissed, and the dragon roared! A struggle between a tiger and a dragon! Unable to withstand the violent forces, the ground of the combat arena cracked and split open. Boom! Finally, the dragon and tiger collided, giving off a thunderous roar. The next moment, the two figures retreated from each other. However, Lin Han had only taken one step back, while Lin Lang could not help but stumble a dozen steps back. At this moment, the coldness of Lin Lang¡¯s expression disappeared and suddenly grew dark. He was unexpectedly repelled by a subdivision boy? ¡°What a powerful body. Does that boy cultivate any body tempering techniques?¡± Lin Lang grasped his numb palm as his face turned extremely gloomy. At this time, the disciples watching from the sidelines instantly stirred up. ¡°With just one move, it seems like Lin Han has the upper hand!¡± ¡°Besides, Lin Han¡¯s most powerful means of fighting seems to be sword techniques, but he hasn¡¯t even drawn his sword yet!¡± ¡°Is that really the power of the Moving Dragon Palm?!¡± ¡­ ¡°What a powerful battle prowess.¡± Not far away, Lin Meier turned pale with fright. She could not help but cover her mouth in shock. ¡°That boy really hid himself well.¡± Lin Han¡¯s strength was basically a slap to Lin Juedao¡¯s face. After all, it was Lin Juedao who said earlier that Lin Han was relying on medicinal pills to increase his cultivation, and so could not possess powerful combat prowess at all. However, the scene before their eyes had slapped his face, causing Lin Juedao¡¯s expression to darken and become unpleasant. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain!¡± ¡°Fierce Tiger Roar!¡± ¡°Fierce Tiger Guards the Forest!¡± Suddenly, using all his True Element, Lin Lang¡¯s entire body was like a truly fierce tiger out to kill. His legs, hands, elbows, and so on all became sharp weapons for killing. ¡°Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps!¡± At this moment, Lin Han used his body martial art. With swift steps on the battle arena and a body like a dragon, the killing moves Lin Lang unleashed on him did not even touch his clothes. That feeling was like a heavy punch that hit soft cotton. It made Lin Lang so depressed he almost wanted to vomit blood. ¡°That boy, how can he have such brilliant body martial art? It even seems like he has trained it to an extremely profound level!¡± Lin Lang was horrified. At that moment, he finally understood. He realized just how terrifying this lowly subdivision disciple he regarded as a worm was. ¡°Fierce Tiger Blood Fiend, Blood Palm Killing!¡± Suddenly, Lin Lang¡¯s eyes flashed ferociously. A blood-colored palm the size of a millstone condensed in his hand, and the light glimmered magnificently as he madly attacked Lin Han. This was his finishing blow! The destructive power was huge! ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± Suddenly. A cold shout sounded. Clang! Lin Han pulled out the sword by his waist, and a cold light instantly cut the air. ¡°Boom.¡± The sword-light was like thunder exploding, instantly tearing the blood-colored palm. ¡°Ah!¡± A shrill and miserable cry was suddenly heard. It was Lin Lang! His palm had been cut off by Lin Han¡¯s sword, leaving only a bare wrist. ¡°How cruel!¡± At that moment, many disciples around sucked in a cold breath. Sure enough, the malefic was as ruthless as ever! ¡°I¡¯ve only chopped off one of your palms. Remember, in the future, don¡¯t mess with people you shouldn¡¯t mess with!¡± Lin Han spat coldly. Then, he did the same in the unpleasant eyes of Lin Shi and the others. He sheathed his sword, turned around, and walked away. ¡­ Lin Han walked out of the combat arena indifferently. If Lin Lang was not from the Lin Clan, he would have killed him already. Now, Lin Han had only chopped off one of his hands. It could be considered a lesson to him in blood. ¡°Lin Han.¡± However, just as Lin Han was thinking of whether he should continue to study the Majestic Golden Sun Cover, a sweet female voice suddenly sounded. Lin Han looked over. Under a gazebo, the blessed girl from Heaven, was Lin Ruyan. Her body was graceful and slender as she stood there, seemingly waiting for a long time. Chapter 17 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Ruyan? Lin Han raised his eyebrows. That girl was born with a silver spoon. Why did she come here for me? ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Lin Han wondered while he looked calmly at the beautiful figure standing at the Gazebo. ¡°I want to know how you rose suddenly in the Outer Residence,¡± said Lin Ruyan. Her pretty eyes were staring at Lin Han with curiosity. When she asked, she was carefully observing if there were any changes in Lin Han¡¯s facial expression. However, Lin Han had a tough mind and he did not show any emotions. He glimpsed at this beautiful girl and smiled. ¡°Those that are supposed to rise, will eventually rise.¡± Those that are supposed to rise, will eventually rise! Lin Han spoke so calmly, it was as if he had no emotions. However, it reflected his strength and huge confidence. Lin Ruyan did not seem to be satisfied with his answer. Her pretty nose creased and she scolded softly, ¡°Lin Han, you¡¯re trying to deceive.¡± ¡°Everything I said was true.¡± Lin Han laughed and said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Even though Lin Ruyan was very beautiful and glamorous, Lin Han was not the type of person who would be stunned from seeing a pretty girl. 2 He was very strong-minded and was way more mature than people his age. 1 Furthermore, after his Qi was transformed by the Golden Spirit Fire, Lin Han became less frivolous and steadier than other youngsters. 1 Lin Han was very clear that right then, his first priority was to increase his strength and be the blockbuster of the following Outer Residence Competition and the Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party. That was his primary goal. ¡°Bad Lin Han, ignored me again¡­¡± Seeing that Lin Han was about to turn and leave, Lin Ruyan said immediately, ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t ask for the reasons, okay? Actually, the main reason why I came here today was to spar with you.¡± ¡°Spar with me?¡± Lin Han was surprised. ¡°Yes. Although many remain suspicious regarding your strength, ever since you defeated Lin Jian with one sword technique, I can tell that you are extremely strong when you reveal your actual combat power.¡± Her dress blew, like an immortal lotus dancing in the wind. Lin Ruyan continued saying, ¡°Tomorrow is the Outer Residence Competition and I hope that I can spar with you earlier. Maybe we can learn something from each other and improve together.¡± Lin Ruyan did not sound like she was kidding. Lin Han thought for a while before he nodded his head. Lin Ruyan had already achieved the fifth tier in martial arts and was ranked third among the Outer Residence, it was no doubt that she was very powerful. Maybe sparing with her could help to sharpen his martial art skills. ¡°I¡¯ll say it upfront that my sword is a killing sword. You can¡¯t blame me if I cause you any injuries by accident,¡± Lin Han reminded her. ¡°No worries, I practice sword technique as well. We are not even sure if you can break through my sword defense.¡± Lin Ruyan was not convinced by him. ¡°Let¡¯s spar at my place, or our sword Qi might hurt the others here by the curb,¡± Lin Han suggested. Lin Ruyan nodded and agreed. One hour later, they arrived at Lin Han¡¯s place. There was a small courtyard here, which was suitable as their sparring site. ¡°Sword Art of the Frozen Heart!¡± Lin Ruyan pointed her sword first. In an instant, the surrounding temperature turned piercing cold. Sword Art of the Frozen Heart? The sword Qi could affect the surrounding temperature? Lin Han was surprised. It seemed that the cultivation method practiced by Lin Ruyan was not ordinary, and instead, it gave her the True Element that possessed the winter attributes. These were very common. For example, warriors that practiced the fire cultivation method would have True Elements with fire attributes, which gave them special lethality against their enemy. Lin Han, however, practiced the one and only Art of the Ancient Dragon. It was the most powerful cultivation method and incomparable throughout history! The element cultivated was Dragon Element that contained the Power of Ancient Dragon. It was a robust, magnificent and long-lasting attribute. Therefore, in combat, Lin Han never worried about having his elements depleted before the enemy. Furthermore, other than the strong element support, the Art of the Ancient Dragon could also form a furnace in his Dantian, which allowed him to continuously plunder the surrounding Heaven and Earth Power for his own usage. It was extremely abnormal and powerful! ¡°Thirteen Gleaming Sword!¡± Right then, Lin Han pointed his sword as well. He did not use the Quick Draw Sword. This was because the Quick Draw Sword had to be completed in one strike with lightning speed. Whenever the strike started, someone must die. It was not suitable for sparring. ¡°I was surprised to find that you practice a high-grade martial arts. Is this the Thirteen Gleaming Sword?¡± Lin Ruyan gave him a look of shock while sparring with him. This was the Lin Han that came from a faraway subdivision. How many more secrets did he have? The more she thought, the more curious and surprised she was towards Lin Han. In the meantime, both of them did not realize that a small figure was standing right at the courtyard entrance. It was Xiao Nu the maid. Right then, the little girl was staring at them sparring in the courtyard, feeling lonely and left out. ¡­ Lin Han and Lin Ruyan finally stopped after two hours. They looked at each other and smiled as both of them had improved by learning from each other. Lin Ruyan did not say much. All she did was smile and thanked Lin Han before she left slowly. Lin Han laughed generously and let her know that she could come over more often to spar. Lin Han had gained a lot of insight regarding his sword techniques from Lin Ruyan. If he applied them to the actual combat, it definitely would increase the power of his sword techniques. Next. Lin Han did not waste any time. He went back into the house and continued to get insights on the Majestic Golden Sun Cover. Time flew, like sand slipping through fingers. That afternoon passed by in the blink of an eye. The sky got darker. Just then, in the house. ¡°Majestic Golden Sun Cover, where hills go across the sky!¡± A prestigious voice came up, it was Lin Han. Right then, he was covered with a golden bell. It was almost solidified. The ancient bell was vigorous, with a cold metallic luster; it was powerful. ¡°I finally took a step further and achieved the Major Advancement!¡± Lin Han looked cheerful. As expected, his genius talent did not disappoint him. Within a day, his proficiency for the Majestic Golden Sun Cover had achieved the Major Advancement. Once implied, the golden bell would cover the entire body. The hardness was comparable to a medium-grade weapon, which allowed Lin Han to be inaccessible by any sword and gun. ¡°Dong Dong Dong¡­¡± Suddenly, there was a sound coming from the door. The sound was very soft, so it should be Xiao Nu knocking on the door. Lin Han instantly determined and said, ¡°Come in, Xiao Nu.¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± As expected, Xiao Nu the maid answered from outside. Her tiny figure then appeared in the room. Lin Han looked at her and immediately realized that she was slightly upset. ¡°What happened, Xiao Nu?¡± Lin Han felt strange. ¡°Young Master, I¡­ I¡­¡± Xiao Nu stammered, and then finally cried, ¡°Wuwu~ Young Master¡­ Does Young Master think that Xiao Nu is useless¡­?¡± ¡°Why would I?¡± Lin Han felt baffled, but he still walked towards the little girl. He hugged her and talked softly, ¡°when I was at my worst, you, Xiao Nu, was the one that stayed by my side. Why would I dislike or avoid you?¡± ¡°Is it¡­ Is it true?¡± Xiao Nu sobbed. ¡°Of course it is true.¡± Lin Han nodded his head hard. After thinking thoroughly, in this entire Lin Clan Sect Residence, the only person who was close to him was Xiao Nu the maid. ¡°Then¡­ Young Master, Xiao Nu¡­ can Xiao Nu stay forever by your side? Serving Young Master?¡± The little girl looked up and asked with eyes filled with hope. ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to, of course you can stay by my side forever,¡± Lin Han answered while he laughed and playfully shaved her nose with his fingers. ¡°Young Master is the best¡­ Xiao Nu will never leave Young Master¡­¡± ¡­ One hour later, Lin Han finally put the little girl to sleep. It was only then did Lin Han have the chance to go out. The sky was dark, but it was one day before the Outer Residence Competition. At this time, it was the liveliest period of the Outer Residence. Of course, Lin Han did not go out to join the fun. Instead, he went to view the early announcement of the disciple ranking board. It happened every year. One night before the Outer Residence Competition, every disciple in the Outer Residence would be evaluated according to their strength and ranked out, as a preparation for the final Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party. Chapter 18 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At nightfall, the Outer Residence of the Lin Clan Sect Residence was still brightly lit. Soon, Lin Han arrived at the border between the Outer and Inner Residences. The atmosphere tonight resembled that time when he came to sign up for the competition. Countless disciples gathered together even though it was already night time. All of them were boiling with excitement while they read the ranking list that hung on the ancient wall. It included the names of all the younger generation disciples of Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s Outer and Inner Residence. The ranking was based on an evaluation of the disciples¡¯ usual performances and cultivation base. It was supposed to serve as a reference. ¡°Have you heard? It¡¯s said that the upper-level management attaches significant importance to the upcoming Sect Residence Martial Arts Tea Party. In order to motivate the young disciples, they took great pains to make sure that anyone who wins a good place in the competition will receive a generous reward.¡± Several Sect Residence disciples were in the middle of a heated discussion. Lin Han threw a sidelong glance at their direction and was surprised by what he discovered. The disciple who was speaking earlier was wearing a shirt with the word ¡°Inner¡± embroidered on the shoulder. He was a disciple of the Inner Residence! Lin Han did not expect that the Inner Residence disciples would be here to join in the fun. However, he thought of it as rather reasonable after giving it a thorough consideration. By the end of tomorrow¡¯s Outer Residence Competition, the top twenty-five candidates would present themselves at Inner Residence to participate in the Martial Arts Tea Party. They would compete with current Inner Residence disciples for the quota of the new term. It was understandable for the current disciples of Inner Residence to check out the ranking tonight. They would want to prepare themselves for the strong presence in Outer Residence so they knew what to expect at the Martial Arts Tea Party. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re definitely worthy of being an Inner Residence disciple, for you¡¯re aware of the confidential information from the sect. Perhaps, Brother, you could reveal what the reward is to enlighten us, disciples of the Outer Residence,¡± said one Outer Residence disciple with a strong curiosity in his tone. ¡°In tomorrow¡¯s Outer Residence Competition, the best twenty-five candidates out of hundreds of Outer Residence disciples will be chosen to participate in the upcoming Martial Arts Tea Party.¡± That Inner Residence disciple smiled and continued, ¡°In the Martial Arts Tea Party, those top twenty-five disciples are qualified to challenge those fifty disciples of the Inner Residence. Victory would ensure the winner¡¯s replacement of the loser¡¯s position, then they will become a new disciple of the Inner Residence. They¡¯ll also be given a set of high-grade martial arts of their preference from the Sect Residence martial arts hall.¡± ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Many of the surrounding Outer Residence disciples were taken aback with surprise at the information revealed by the Inner Residence disciple. One was eligible to choose a set of high-grade martial arts as long as they became an Inner Residence disciple? Not to mention high-grade martial arts, even medium-grade martial arts were extremely rare to come by for these disciples. ¡°Besides, I heard that if any of the top twenty-five Outer Residence disciples are able to acquire a position among the top twenty in the upcoming Martial Arts Tea Party, they will also be awarded an Element Condensation Pill in addition to the rewards mentioned earlier!¡± The Inner Residence disciple once again surprised the crowd. Element Condensation Pill?! The Outer Residence disciples were completely shocked. Element Condensation Pills were a kind of extremely precious medicinal pill that was worth five hundred taels of gold each. As if still unsatisfied with the crowd¡¯s reaction, the disciple revealed another piece of startling news. ¡°If you can break through into the top ten, in addition to the high-grade martial arts and Element Condensation Pill, the successful person will also get an Element Breakthrough Pill!¡± What? Element Breakthrough Pill?! At this point, let alone some ordinary Outer Residence disciples, even Lin Han¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief when he heard what that Inner Residence disciple said. As everyone knew, spiritual pills were also divided into several grades, namely low-grade, medium-grade, high-grade and top-grade pills. The Element Condensation Pill was a medium-grade spiritual pill, but the Element Breakthrough Pill which was a whole level higher was a high-grade spiritual pill. It would definitely cost thousands of taels of gold. Perhaps, one could not acquire that pill even with that much wealth. One could only come across such things serendipitously! Besides, the effect the Element Breakthrough Pill had was incredible. At the consumption of this spiritual pill, any martial arts practitioner was able to progress straight into their next boundary below the martial arts Grandmaster level. The mention of this caused all the younger generation disciples to burn with fervent passion. Even Lin Gutian, the mightiest disciple of the Inner Residence, had not set foot into the martial arts seventh tier Grandmaster boundary. Grandmaster, as the name suggested, was an extraordinary existence in the world of martial arts. With a physical body fuelled with True Element and long-drawn-out strength, a Grandmaster could fight against a powerful army without feeling weary. ¡°What if you make it to the top three?¡± Suddenly, an unusually excited voice rang in the air. ¡°If an Outer Residence disciple really makes it to the top three of the Inner Residence, in addition to the rewards mentioned earlier, the person will also receive a set of top-grade martial arts specially prepared for the winner by the upper-level management, as well as a rare and powerful Thousand Year Snow Lotus!¡± replied the Inner Residence disciple immediately. An unexpected pin-drop silence filled the air. Top-grade martial arts? Thousand Year Snow Lotus? Both were legendary items! ¡°Top-grade martial arts? Thousand Year Snow Lotus?¡± When Lin Han, who was standing among the crowd heard this, his eyes twinkled with brilliance. He had never come into contact with top-grade martial arts before. 1 Moreover, there was also the Thousand Year Snow Lotus. If he could acquire that, the powerful phagocytosis ability of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor would definitely absorb the full strength of that spiritual medicine. Then, his cultivation base would gain a rapid boost. Lin Han¡¯s eyes were heating with anticipation. He was unambitious to only think about victory in the Outer Residence Competition before. Instead, he should have set his eyes on the Martial Arts Tea Party where Inner Residence disciples fight for mastery. That was the stage in which he should shine on. At the thought of this, Lin Han was no longer anticipating tomorrow¡¯s Outer Residence Competition. The reason was that at this stage, he was no longer fearful of anyone from the Outer Residence. At this point, Lin Han¡¯s goal was changed to at least become the top three in the Martial Arts Tea Party. After all, the generous rewards that included a set of high-grade martial arts, a set of top-grade martial arts, an Element Condensation Pill, and an Element Breakthrough Pill were tremendously tempting. Lin Han was absolutely convinced. His ultimate ambition had always been to leap out of the Lin Clan Sect Residence, out of the Broken Sky City, even out of the entire Yan Kingdom and into the vast world of martial arts. Therefore, he needed to seize every opportunity to improve the strength of his martial art. Then, Lin Han looked at the ranking on that list. The person who topped the list was unexpectedly the mightiest disciple recognized by Lin Clan Sect Residence ¡ª Lin Gutian. It was rumored that Lin Gutian had long advanced into martial arts sixth tier about a year ago. He had yet progressed into martial arts seventh tier Grandmaster boundary but was definitely somewhere close by. Moreover, he was one of the five greatest men in Broken Sky City. His status was unquestioned, be in the Lin Clan Sect Residence or in the whole of Broken Sky City. His name represented unchallenged authority! However, Lin Han reacted nonchalantly regarding this. By inheriting the peerless mastery of the Ancient First Dragon Emperor, Lin Han believed that as long as he was given sufficient time, any so-called genius or greatest man was destined to be trampled under his feet. This was the strong mentality of a powerhouse. Besides, this was also an extremely firm and tenacious martial artist attitude! Then, Lin Han continued to read the list and he soon recognized some familiar names. For instance, Lin Tian, the Outer Residence Greatest Disciple was ranked eighteenth; Lin Ruyan was ranked thirty-eighth; Lin Juedao was ranked forty-sixth¡­ His eyes slowly moved downwards. Finally, Lin Han saw his name ranked at the sixty-eighth place. It seemed like his recent performance had been made known to the Sect Residence upper levels. Otherwise, he, who was a petty and lowly subdivision disciple would only have been ranked after the hundreds. At this moment, Lin Han had a fixed number in his mind. He turned and walked into the distance. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the night. Chapter 19 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Tonight was doomed to be an eventful night. ¡­ Inside a massive main hall located deep within the Lin Clan Sect Residence. Boom! A powerful shockwave exploded. ¡°Hahaha!¡± A burst of manic laughter suddenly rang in the air. ¡°Big Brother, have you had a breakthrough?¡± Lin Shi who was standing near the side of the main hall was filled with a surge of wild joy. ¡°That¡¯s correct! After consuming the Element Condensation Pill sent over by Father, I¡¯ve finally succeeded in breaking through to martial arts fifth tier!¡± At the minute, Lin Lang was high-spirited and full of mettle. He looked at his residual limb and a hint of bitter resentment flashed across his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll shatter that rascal, Lin Han, into a million pieces at tomorrow¡¯s Outer Residence Competition as revenge!¡± ¡­ Inside a vermilion tower in the Outer Residence of Lin Clan Sect Residence. Both Lin Juedao and Lin Meier were drenched in sweat after a round of fierce and intense sex. Right now, Lin Meier coquettishly rested her head against Lin Juedao¡¯s chest. A hint of jealousy and resentment flashed across her charming eyes as she said, ¡°Brother Dao, please teach Lin Han a lesson at tomorrow¡¯s competition on my behalf. He¡¯s nothing but a lowly scum and don¡¯t you allow his cultivation base to be more superior than mine!¡± ¡°Rest assured.¡± The corners of Lin Juedao¡¯s lips turned upward into a smirk as he declared, ¡°I¡¯ll cripple that Lin Han tomorrow and turn him into your loyal dog!¡± ¡­ Inside a remote courtyard house in Lin Clan Sect Residence. Under the hazy moonlight, Lin Ruyan¡¯s lithe and graceful demeanor resembled that of a moon fairy. Divine, but cool and magnificent. ¡°Miss, you should retire to bed as it¡¯s getting late. With your strength and ability, you¡¯ll definitely get a placement among the top twenty among Inner Residence of Lin Clan Sect Residence in tomorrow¡¯s Outer Residence Competition, perhaps even the top ten,¡± a frail voice rang in the air. An unusual black-robed figure appeared behind Lin Ruyan out of the blue. ¡°Uncle Ghost, how much longer do you think I can stay in this place?¡± asked the desolate Lin Ruyan suddenly. ¡°Old Nu has no idea too, but it¡¯ll be soon. Miss, you can return safely when Master has thoroughly rooted out the traitors. Miss, this small place and all of its inhabitants are not from the same world as you,¡± the black-robed figure named Uncle Ghost said. ¡°Is it really true that everyone¡­ is not from the same world as me?¡± whispered Lin Ruyan. For some strange reasons, Lin Han¡¯s green shirt and his calm silhouette appeared in her mind¡­ ¡­ Gong! Early in the morning, a sound of the bell that came from deep within the Lin Clan Sect Residence made the whole Outer Residence boil over with excitement. It was finally time for the long-awaited Outer Residence Tournament! Creak! Lin Han pushed the door open abruptly and filled his lungs with fresh air. ¡°All the best, Young Master, in getting into the top twenty-five. Otherwise, both of us would be sent back to Changyun village!¡± Xiao Nu the maidservant walked over to offer a few words of encouragement. Top twenty-five? Lin Han smiled silently. He was sure to be the champion of this Outer Residence Competition! An hour later, the combat arena that would determine the livelihoods of the Inner Residence was already surrounded by a massive crowd. The top twenty-five talents of this Outer Residence Competition would be determined in this Inner Residence survival arena. This was the first time Lin Han had ever stepped foot into the Inner Residence of Lin Clan Sect Residence. The surrounding scenery dotted by verdant hills and limpid water accompanying the forest of pavilions melded together into a wonderful view. He turned his attention towards the survival arena situated in the center. The whole survival arena looked as if it was made by a huge slab of bluestone. It was glazed over with a layer of molten iron and it reflected a cold metal luster under the sunlight. It was near impossible to destroy the survival arena that was protected by a layer of molten iron, even for a Grandmaster that killed via the transmission of True Element. As expected, the buildings in the Inner Residence were much more sumptuously furnished than the ones in Outer Residence. Two hours later, a massive crowd made out of Outer Residence disciples surrounded the survival arena. Lin Han quickly scanned the room and noticed there were almost two to three hundred people present. Today¡¯s Outer Residence Competition was going to be ruthless and merciless. This was because only twenty-five out of these three hundred people would be qualified to participate in the upcoming Martial Arts Tea Party and compete against the Inner Residence disciples. By now, numerous Inner Residence disciples had also arrived at the scene. However, the few Inner Residence disciples that topped the list did not appear in the arena. They did not have to probe because they had already acquired tremendous strength and abilities. Perhaps, they assumed that they were more superior and were not interested in the competition of Outer Residence disciples at all. This created some awkwardness in the air but those Outer Residence disciples could only remain silent once they were reminded of the terrifying capabilities of those top Inner Residence disciples. ¡°It¡¯s rumored that there are several strong contenders among the Outer Residence this year and they ranked quite high in the estimated results.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only a prediction. Those Outer Residence disciples can¡¯t go far without sufficient resources, at most there¡¯ll be several that are gifted with some talent.¡± ¡°Lin Tian, Lin Xue, Lin Ruyan, and Lin Juedao are some powerful candidates.¡± Afar, a few of the Inner Residence disciples that came to watch the competition were in a heated discussion. ¡°They¡¯re all nothing but scums. Maybe the first three people would be an interesting match, but they¡¯re still nothing but scum in my eyes!¡¯ All of a sudden, a scornful remark was thrown into the air by an indifferent voice. The Outer Residence disciples at the scene were enraged at that comment. Their expressions turned extremely furious. However, as soon as the source of that voice was revealed, their infuriating temper was replaced with terror. ¡°The person who ranked third among the Inner Residence disciples ¨C Lin Duanjian!¡± One of the Inner Residence disciples whispered in awe. ¡°What? The number-three powerhouse of the Inner Residence?¡± ¡°Why would such a strong presence like him come to watch this battle?¡± ¡°I heard that Lin Duanjian has a younger brother in the Inner Residence but I have no idea which one. It seems like he¡¯s here to watch his brother¡¯s performance?¡± At this moment, every Outer Residence disciple was discussing quietly among themselves about that figure that appeared out of nowhere. ¡®Lin Duanjian? The number three powerhouse of the Inner Residence!¡¯ Immediately, Lin Han locked his eyes on the slim figure that was carrying a black longsword on his back. ¡®Is this him ¨C Lin Duanjian?¡± Lin Han secretly circulated the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor right away. The glistening gold layer hidden beneath his eyes was something he utilized to probe into someone¡¯s cultivation base boundary. He had performed this unique technique before to probe into Lin Ruyan¡¯s cultivation base. ¡®Martial arts sixth tier!¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s expression changed when he ¡°saw¡± the forceful True Element inside of Lin Duanjian. The Inner Residence was indeed the place where talent amassed! The actual Martial Arts Tea Party was approaching and time was running short. Lin Han decided that after the Outer Residence Competition, he must advance his cultivation base into the next boundary by any means available. Otherwise, his goal to reach the top three in the Martial Arts Tea Party would become nothing but fantastic nonsense. Just when Lin Han was planning and considering his next steps quietly, a dignified voice sounded from the middle of the survival arena. ¡°I hereby announce; the Outer Residence Competition has officially started! Next, I would like to invite all of the Outer Residence disciples to receive your competition number from me for the elimination round!¡± Chapter 20 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The announcement had been made. This marked the official commencing of the Outer Residence Competition! Lin Han followed the crowd into a line to collect their respective competition numbers. However, Lin Han noticed the top five figures of Outer Residence were all standing on the combat arena with solemn expressions on their faces. Ranking from the first to the fifth was Lin Tian, Lin Xue, Lin Ruyan, Lin Juedao, and Lin Ran respectively. Since they were the seeded disciples, it was a given that they would not be assigned a competition number by natural selection but intentionally allocated into different pairs. Otherwise, it would be such a shame to eliminate a powerful candidate at the beginning of the competition if any two of them fought against each other in the first round. One hour later, every disciple received a white sandalwood sign that was inscribed with their respective competition numbers. Lin Han was allocated the number thirty-three. Then, the actual competition was about to begin. Both parties on each side of the arena were allowed to fight with extreme violent because this was the Inner Residence survival arena. This rule astonished Lin Han. However, he was reminded of the high standard in the Lin Clan Sect Residence that placed quality over quantity. Losing the lives of several Outer Residence disciples was not important if that meant one or a few naturally bright talents could break through the tight encirclement. After all, the Lin Clan Sect Residence was able to stand erect for all these years in the Broken Sky City not because of the number of clansman it held in its ranks but because of the few martial arts Grandmasters who possessed great cultivation bases. Therefore, the rules to Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s trials differed from that of any other clans. Organizing the competition in the Inner Residence survival arena had clearly said it all. This was doomed to be a bloody competition. ¡°Number ninety-four to fight against number two hundred and sixty!¡± The competition was moderated by an Inner Residence elder and right now he had started to announce the candidates for the first elimination round. Soon after, two young figures, fearful of each other hopped on to the survival combat arena. The crowd started to cheer from under the arena. Everyone regarded this event with great importance. After all, this Outer Residence Competition could decide one¡¯s future and destiny. ¡­ ¡°Number sixty-seven to fight against number ninety-eight!¡± ¡°Number seventy-three to fight against number eighty-five!¡± ¡°Number one hundred and three to fight against number two hundred and sixty-one!¡± ¡­ Young and eager disciples one after another went up to the arena as the Inner Residence elder called out for their turns. The winners appeared daring and energetic, while the losers hung their heads down in dismay. Many of them almost perished in the combat. The Lin Clan Sect Residence Competition was indeed cruel and merciless. That was to ensure that only the strongest were allowed into the Inner Residence. As time passed, Lin Han noticed several familiar faces. For instance, Lin Lang, who had his arm amputated by him, looked glum and his once childhood playmate, Lin Meier. Right this moment, his number was being called out. ¡°Number thirty-three to fight against number one hundred and nine!¡± ¡°It¡¯s my turn,¡± he mumbled as he looked down at the sign in his hand. Before he could approach the survival arena, a ferocious-looking young disciple jumped high into the air from the crowd and landed on the arena. ¡°He¡¯s brilliant!¡± The crowd cried out in astonishment. This young disciple was indeed the person holding number one hundred and nine. ¡°This is Lin Yan ¨C the powerful man ranked fifteenth in the Outer Residence!¡± ¡°He¡¯s up early? Candidate number thirty-three is definitely down on luck to be assigned to fight Lin Yan on the first elimination round.¡± Numerous people in the crowd were feeling sorry for candidate number thirty-three. On the other hand on the survival arena, Lin Yan was yelling out loud confidently, ¡°Where¡¯s candidate number thirty-three? Hurry up and accept your fate, I have another match to fight!¡± ¡°Oh? Are you sure that you¡¯re the one fate favors?¡± a calm voice said suddenly. Without anyone¡¯s notice, a green silhouette that resembled a ghost had already appeared in the arena. The corners of people¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily when they identified this green silhouette. What? This malefic man was candidate number thirty-three! ¡°Lin¡­ Lin Han¡­ Is that you?¡± The ferocious features of the man standing in the opposition twisted because of utter shock. ¡®Lin Han?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m fighting against Lin Han, the established malefic man of the Outer Residence, in my first round?¡¯ The expression on Lin Yan¡¯s face grew ugly; he looked like he was crying without tears. Sounds of sighs were heard from the crowd as they mourned for Lin Yan. After all, according to the spreading rumors, Lin Han had amputated an arm off Lin Lang who ranked seventh strongest in Outer Residence. After that incident, no one dared to provoke this man anymore. Perhaps, apart from the top five strongest of Outer Residence, no one else was able to suppress this man named Lin Han. Every Outer Residence disciple was familiar with Lin Han, but not the Inner Residence elder. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes as he witnessed the sudden change of expression on Lin Yan¡¯s face. Hence, he shifted his attention toward Lin Han. Could it be possible that this young-looking man dressed in green was a somewhat powerful presence in the Outer Residence? He seemed to know nothing about the young man. A few of those current Inner Residence disciples among the crowd also did not recognize Lin Han. After all, Lin Han¡¯s reputation had only recently risen in the Outer Residence, so it was not surprising that the people from Inner Residence had no idea about his presence. ¡°One blow from the sword,¡± announced Lin Han out of the blue. He no longer had to keep his talents hidden since he was already here, participating in the clan competition. Lin Han knew very well that the better he performed, the more attention he would receive from the sect residence upper-level. Perhaps remaining humble was the right thing for him to do in the past, but it would be silly of him to conceal his talents at this moment. ¡°One blow¡­¡± Lin Yan muttered this with bitterness although he was well-aware that Lin Han was qualified to challenge that. ¡°One blow?¡± ¡°A nameless lad like him seems really puffed up with pride and arrogance.¡± However, those Inner Residence disciples only sneered as they all thought Lin Han regarded too highly of himself. Even the Inner Residence elder who was moderating the competition frowned his brows slightly as he thought to himself, ¡®This young man in green is perhaps overly confident.¡¯ ¡°No matter what, I still want to have a fair and square fight against you!¡± Lin Yan¡¯s eyes suddenly twinkled with brilliance as a great fight intent surged in him. Lin Han smiled ever so slightly. He was ever so slightly impressed with Lin Yan for showing such strong fighting intent under these circumstances. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll yield to you ten moves so you can show me all you¡¯ve got,¡± announced Lin Han all of the sudden. Ten moves? The smirks on the Inner Residence disciples¡¯ faces grew even wider as they anticipated Lin Han to make a fool of himself. ¡°Sure, Brother Lin Han, your teachings will be much appreciated!¡± Lin Yan took in a sharp inhale and his martial arts fourth tier beginner level True Elements were released at once. In an instant, the surrounding air became burning hot. As it turned out, Lin Yan¡¯s True Element was of the rare fire attribute. ¡°Flaming Sky Palm!¡± Bang! Bang! Bang¡­ Lin Yan was performing a set of medium-grade martial arts ¨C Flaming Sky Palm. He prompted his True Element so that every move he made carried a faint flame of great lethality on his palms. However, Lin Han only extended his arms slowly in response and successfully dissipated each of the Flaming Sky Palms. The flame on Lin Yan¡¯s palms seemed to not have any effect on him at all. ¡°That¡¯s ten.¡± Without warning, Lin Han¡¯s voice rang in the air. Clang! A noise as loud as a clap of thunder rang at the same time when a ray of gleaming sword-light cut through the air. Boom! In the next second, Lin Yan¡¯s body was attacked by the blade of a longsword and he was immediately flung out of the survival arena. ¡°Screech!¡± Lin Han returned the sword to its scabbard. He stood motionless on the arena as his expressionless eyes glanced into the distance. Lin Yan was not hurt. He quickly rose to his feet and saluted to Lin Han who was on the arena. ¡°Brother Lin Han, I appreciate your teachings very much. My Flaming Sky Palm has finally progressed from Minor Advancement boundary to Major Advancement boundary!¡± Lin Yan¡¯s act of gratification caused many of the Outer Residence disciples to look at Lin Han in confusion. Perhaps Lin Han was not as wicked as the people had rumored. ¡°That¡¯s one explosive blow!¡± By now, those Inner Residence disciples who were jeering at Lin Han earlier had put on a solemn expression. Before these disciples could catch a good look at Lin Han removing his sword, Lin Yan¡¯s body had already been flung out of the arena. This level of swordsmanship was completely terrifying! It might even be an above-average skill among the Inner Residence disciples. That Inner Residence elder who thought Lin Han was unbelievably egoistic and arrogance could not help but muttered to himself, ¡°Quick Draw Sword¡­ Is it possible that this Outer Residence disciple has advanced this extreme sword skill into the Pin¡­ Pinnacle Boundary?¡± A hint of surprise flashed across his eyes as he thought. 1 Chapter 21 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation While everyone stared at him in shock, Lin Han walked down from the platform with a flat expression. The Outer Residence Competition was a walk in the park for Lin Han. What he was really looking forward to was the following Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party. That was where the elites of the Residence focused on. The fight then continued. However, looking at Lin Han standing quietly in the crowd, a glint of fear appeared in the eyes of the disciples from the Outer Residence. It seemed that Lin Han was slated for success in this competition. ¡°Number 33, against number 90!¡± It was Lin Han¡¯s turn to fight again. This time, Lin Han¡¯s opponent was a young man with a cool and strict expression on his face. ¡°Lin Han, I know that you¡¯re strong, but the martial art I practiced is¡­¡± Clang! The sound of swords rang, loud as thunder, as if the air itself was going to be torn apart. ¡°Ah!¡± A terrifying scream then followed. A figure was thrown away and fell outside the platform. The young man with a straight face did not get to finish his jabbering. His defense was broken through by Lin Han in one blow and he was swept out from the platform by his blade. It was an instant victory. ¡°Shing!¡± Lin Han sheathed his sword and walked down from the platform. He was emotionless. He defeated his opponent in one blow, again! At the moment, all of the disciples in the Outer Residence were all seething. Even the disciples from the Inner Residence felt threatened by his display. This young swordsman in green from the Outer Residence had given them too much pressure. The competition continued. As expected, Lin Han defeated all of his opponents, regardless of gender, in one blow and swept them all out from the platform. His opponents were not even able to discern the swings of his sword. ¡°Lin Han, the tale of your string of victories ends here!¡± someone sneered suddenly. It was Lin Ran! Finally, Lin Han met someone that had real strength ¨C Lin Ran was ranked fifth in the Outer Residence. Right then, a lot of disciples outside the platform looked nervous. Can Lin Han, the biggest dark horse in this Outer Residence Competition, continue his undefeated streak? ¡°One blow.¡± Lin Han spoke. He sounded normal but high-handed. ¡°I¡¯m not like those good-for-nothings. Lin Han, it¡¯s time for your defeat!¡± Boom! A powerful breath came out from Lin Ran¡¯s body and spread across the entire arena. The fifth tier of martial arts! For the first time, a powerful opponent at the martial arts fifth tier appeared. ¡°Heheh.¡± Lin Ran looked cool and fierce. He guffawed, ¡°Lin Han, you can never overcome the difference in strength between tiers!¡± Boom! ¡°Majestic Devil Ape!¡± ¡°Through-arm Deity Fist!¡± Lin Ran roared out of a sudden. The very next moment, his arms started to bulge at a visible rate. His muscles contracted and expanded at an egregious rate, even his skin turned black-purple, diffusing an aura similar to that of the evil spirit from an ancient beast. ¡°It¡¯s the power of bloodline!¡± Someone from the crowd exclaimed, ¡°It is said that Lin Ran has a small trace of the bloodline from an ancient devil ape. The Majestic Devil Ape skill that he practiced can stimulate the bloodline and induce explosive strength!¡± ¡°Lin Han, you¡¯re doomed to be my stepping stone. Let me be the one that ends your victories!¡± The eyes of Lin Ran seemed to be covered by a layer of blood. His strength was at its limits. His arms were black and purple, as if a huge devil ape was roaring and rearing to shred everything in its path. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± Unexpectedly, Lin Han shouted. Shink! The next moment, a shocking ray of sword-light drew across the air and punctured both of Lin Ran¡¯s arms. ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Ran let out a blood-curdling scream. He looked at his shredded arms and screamed, ¡°This is impossible! Lin Han, it¡¯s impossible that you can puncture my devil arms with just the Quick Draw Sword technique!¡± ¡°Who told you that Quick Draw Sword is the only technique I know?¡± Lin Han tightened his lips and said, ¡°Go down yourself or I¡¯ll send you down.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Lin Ran¡¯s face turned sour immediately. He was the one that bragged about breaking Lin Han¡¯s win streak. However, right now, he seemed to be making a fool of himself. Just then, Lin Ran saw that Lin Han had in fact punctured his devil arms thirteen times after performing his Quick Draw Sword. Every blow was sharp and the sword Qi he emanated was bold. It also seemed to have a cold erosion effect. ¡°Thirteen Gleaming Swords!¡± Suddenly, the name of a powerful martial art came across Lin Ran¡¯s mind. ¡°It¡¯s impossible¡­ Impossible¡­ How could he learn so many martial arts in such a short time¡­?¡± Lin Ran was shocked. He mumbled to himself and left the platform slowly. He knew that he was no match for Lin Han¡¯s at all. ¡°One blow, again!¡± Right then, countless disciples from the Outer Residence erupted in conversation in the arena. Lin Han was still powerful and high-handed even against the fifth-ranked Lin Ran. . One blow, and he defeated his opponent! Even the elder from the Inner Residence that was hosting the competition was shocked by Lin Han¡¯s performance. It was already incredible enough for Lin Han to achieve the Pinnacle state for Quick Draw Sword. However, when he was fighting against Lin Ran, the elder saw that Lin Han managed to strike thirteen blows in a blink of an eye, with the cold erosion effect. Lin Ran¡¯s bloodline power was then immediately disrupted. The others might not notice that, but the elder saw it. It was a sign indicating that the Thirteen Gleaming Swords was also reaching the Pinnacle state! This disciple from the Outer Residence was full of potential! In the following matches, Lin Han did not ¡®disappoint¡¯ the crowd. No matter who he met, he defeated his opponents in one blow. Clang! Sword out, the enemy defeated. One blow but it was loud as thunder. The legend of Lin Han¡¯s undefeated streak was maintained. Some people were even shouting crazily. ¡°Six winning streak!¡± ¡°Seven winning streak!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Thirty winning streak!¡± Finally, every disciple from the Outer Residence shouted this number. The entire arena went silent for a moment. Even those disciples ranked as top three in the Outer Residence started to feel the pressure. Lin Han was definitely the biggest dark horse in the Outer Residence over the years. Thirty winning streak! This spectacle was unprecedented in the history of the Outer Residence Competition within the Lin Clan Sect Residence! Lin Han, this normal disciple that came from the subdivision, shone and surprised everyone. Right then, the most flabbergasted one was Lin Meier. She saw with her own eyes when Lin Han defeated his opponents one after another with just one blow¡­ Her whole face was numb. Even Lin Lang, who had been talking about chopping Lin Han into pieces, looked frightened. He hid in the crowd and did not have the courage to show his face even though he had already passed his limit and achieved the fifth tier of martial arts. On the other hand, Lin Shi had already conceited to his fear long ago. He almost wanted to bury himself in a pit in the hope of not seeing Lin Han. The Outer Residence Competition did not allow the servants to watch the battles. Otherwise, if Xiao Nu the maid were here, she might be fainting from excitement when she saw her young master being so powerful. In the following matches, as long as Lin Han obtained one more victory, he could quit the first round of the competition and get promoted directly to the second round, where he would compete with the top three disciples for the championship. Therefore, the last opponent of Lin Han was¡­ ¡°I have been waiting for you for a very long time!¡± Lin Han shouted coldly. His eyes were sharp like an eagle, staring at the young man bearing a changdao (TN: The term ¡°changdao¡± literally means ¡°long knife¡± and it was a traditional two-handed, single-edged sword used in ancient China.) not far away. Lin Juedao! One of the strongest people in the Outer Residence, ranked fourth. His knife technique was unpredictable. No one had ever seen him fight. ¡°Lin Han, I admit that you¡¯re very strong.¡± Lin Juedao spoke. His eyes reflected his hidden murderous intent and he said, ¡°However, you¡¯re still too young and naive. You¡¯d never understand that you can never mess with certain people!¡± ¡°Boom¡± After his speech, a horrifying ray of sword intent blasted out from Lin Juedao and shot towards the sky. The land around him cracked instantly. ¡°Such strong momentum, what kind of sword intent is this?!¡± Right then, disciples from the Outer Residence exclaimed in shock. ¡°This is impossible!¡± Lin Tian, the first disciple of the Outer Residence, finally spoke. He looked at Lin Juedao with fear in his eyes and said while trembling, ¡°You¡­ You really practiced The Killing Knife Art?!¡± Killing Knife Art! Every disciple in their midst shivered. What is this ¡®Killing Knife Art¡¯? Why would the top disciple of the Outer Residence, Lin Tian, become so frightened suddenly? Did Lin Juedao intentionally hide his strength all this while? When he finally revealed his real strength, even Lin Tian, the top disciple of the Outer Residence would feel terrified! Right then, a lot of people that were confident in Lin Han started to hesitate. Maybe Lin Han was still going to be defeated by the mysterious and powerful Lin Juedao. Chapter 22 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Killing Knife Art? At the moment, most of the disciples from the Outer Residence felt confused. What kind of knife art is the Killing Knife Art? Why would the top disciple of Outer Residence Lin Han be so afraid of it? ¡°Half top-grade martial arts,¡± said Lin Tian slowly. Right after he said that the crowd strangely turned silent as the tension in the air rose incredibly quickly. ¡°What? Half top-grade martial arts?!¡± ¡°As disciples of the Outer Residence, forget half top-grade, even the high-grade martial arts could only be obtained by luck. Yet, Lin Juedao was practicing a half top-grade martial art? This is insane!¡± ¡°The undefeatable myth of Lin Han should really be ending here.¡± Every disciple was staring at Lin Juedao in shock. ¡°Half high-grade martial arts?¡± Even certain disciples from the Inner Residence that came to watch the competition were shocked. High-grade martial arts were very rare even in the Inner Residence. Only a few top disciples of the Inner Residence had the eligibility to access high-grade martial arts. ¡°Lin Juedao¡¯s father, Lin Badao, is one of the powerful elders at the management of Lin Clan Sect Residence.¡± Some people guessed. At the same time, Lin Juedao pulled Lin Meier beside him into his arms and looked at Lin Han. He stared at Lin Han with his cold eyes and said, ¡°Lin Han, the girl that grew up with you in pairs, is now in my arms, how do you feel right now?¡± Lin Juedao wanted to humiliate Lin Han using Lin Meier. However, right then, Lin Han had sight that reached farther than what was in front of him. His strong mind would not be affected by such words. ¡°That girl there is useless. You took her as treasure but why do you think I¡¯d care?¡± Lin Han mocked suddenly. ¡°You¡­¡± Lin Juedao did not expect Lin Han to say such words. His face turned sour in an instance. The eyes of Lin Juedao darkened especially when the surrounding crowd from the Outer Residence stared at him weirdly. ¡°Lin Han! What did you say?!¡± Lin Meier shouted at high pitch suddenly, ¡°You¡¯re just a disciple from the petty and low subdivision. How dare you talk about me!? What¡¯s the point of having high martial arts achievements if you¡¯re poor? Without a good identity and solid background, you will have no one behind you! You¡¯re still doomed to be tr*sh!¡± ¡°I stand behind myself!¡± Lin Han shouted immediately. ¡°Boom¡± A strong aura spread out from Lin Han¡¯s body. Right then, a Five-Claw Golden Dragon roared in the consciousness of Lin Han. The dragon roar went up to the sky and the majestic spirit of the Dragon King was added into his words. He was his own foundation! He was the foundation! That sentence dropped like a loud crack of thunder exploding on the earth. Disciples from the Outer Residence felt chills down their spine and became excited. They were all petty and low disciples in the Outer Residence that had no identity and background. They always felt it was unfair that they did not have powerful people behind them that could support them. They had no foundations but their own. However, Lin Han¡¯s words made them understood suddenly. So what if they did not have backing from other people? They would be their own foundation! Lin Han was standing in the arena right then. His eyes were sharp like knives, and he was staring at Lin Meier. Lin Meier¡¯s face turned pale immediately. She was totally terrified by Lin Han¡¯s stare and she did not dare to say anything more. ¡°This kid is quite interesting.¡± The elder from Inner Residence that hosted the battle saw that and smiled. ¡°Lin Han!¡± Lin Ruyan was somewhere nearby. She looked at the green-shirt figure that stood proudly in the middle of the platform, as if his figure resembled the long sword shooting into the sky, the aura coming from him was spectacular. She felt as if she was falling in love. 1 Although Lin Han was only at the fourth tier of martial arts, his aura was already comparable to certain martial arts grandmasters. ¡°Such a strong aura!¡± Lin Tian, the top disciple of the Outer Residence, was shocked as well. ¡°As I know, Lin Han was a disciple from a very faraway subdivision. In the past whole year, he suffered a lot from being bullied. What happened to him? How could he have made such changes in such a short period?¡± Maybe what others saw was the strength of Lin Han. However, Lin Tian was very observant. What he saw was the Essence, Qi and Spirit of Lin Han, the mind and heart of Lin Han for martial arts. He felt very confused. If Lin Han consumed a life-changing spiritual pill, or ate a rare and unique fruit, his growth of strength in such a short period could then be explained. However, what was it that had the ability to change someone from the Essence, Qi and Spirit level? From inside out, thoroughly? Not even Lin Tian knew. Lin Ruyan had a mysterious background, and she had very rich knowledge as well. She was so curious about Lin Han. If Lin Han were a powerless ant in the past year, right then, he had totally changed his life as he had then become a small dragon with endless potential. Once born, his shine could never be covered. The dragon was doomed to return to the ocean, fly high into the sky and be on top of the world. ¡°Uncle, you said that in this small place, it was doomed that no one would be in the same world as I am, but¡­¡± Lin Ruyan thought. Her beautiful eyes stared curiously at Lin Han on the platform. Lin Han looked at Lin Meier¡¯s pale face, and the darkened eyes of Lin Juedao. He felt ecstatic. All of the negative emotions that he accumulated for a year went away. Finally, today, in front of everyone, he washed away the biggest humiliation he received ever since he stepped into the Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°Insolent! How dare you humiliate me this way. You¡¯re too boastful for your own good!¡± Lin Juedao pulled out his long sword from his back in a flash. His eyes were cold and sharp. He stared at Lin Han, his killing intent bursting from him, and then he smiled brutally, ¡°Right now, I¡¯m still holding on to my words. Kneel in front of me, chop one of your arms off, and I¡¯ll let you live. Otherwise, a horrible death awaits you!.¡± ¡°I¡¯m holding on to my words as well.¡± Lin Han stood on the battle platform. His dark hair fell around him like a waterfall, his eyes were sharp as lightning His killing intent was boiling for Lin Juedao as well. Lin Han unsheathed and pointed his sword at his opponent and said, ¡°I believe, the one that will die awfully today¡­ Is you!¡± ¡°Boom¡± His True Element burst out at a terrifying scale. The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor ran errant in his body and created a deep dragon roar that gave Lin Han explosive strength. At the same time, Lin Juedao moved from not far away. ¡°Killing Knife Art!¡± ¡°Sky Splitting Form!¡± ¡°Sky Breaking Form!¡± ¡°Sky Destroying Form!¡± Lin Juedao roared fiercely, his changdao shone in the color of fresh blood. The knife Qi spread throughout the sky and he slashed towards Lin Han three times in an instant. Every slash was cold and fearsome, as if the air itself was being split apart. Every swing was also stronger than the previous one each filled with killing and destroying intent. It was as if every living thing should be sundered to dust under this knife intent. Nothing should stay alive. ¡°Top-grade martial arts, with slight conception.¡± Lin Tian was shocked. ¡°Conception?¡± Lin Ruyan¡¯s pretty eyes turned worried. She stared at Lin Han as the situation got more dangerous. ¡°Majestic Golden Sun Cover!¡± However, Lin Han spoke very calmly right then. ¡°Buzz¡± The air shook. Facing that three terrifying slashes, Lin Han emanated all of his True Element. He raised his arms as if he was carrying the sky. An ancient Golden Sun Cover appeared around him and shone with metallic colors. Cold, hard, bold and powerful! ¡°Dang!!¡± The three blades landed on the Golden Sun Cover with horrifying and wild power, producing a violent roar. At the moment, the dust and soil flew around and covered everything. ¡°Did he defend against that successfully?¡± ¡°Did Lin Han get chopped into three pieces?¡± The floor of the platform cracked and exploded, inch by inch. Dust and debris covered the arena and no one could see the two people in the battle clearly. Disciples from the Outer Residence and even those from the Inner Residence were in an uproar. Everyone was nervous. Chapter 23 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Boom¡± A violent rumble echoed across the survival arena. At this moment, countless burning gazes were directed at the middle of the survival arena. Who could it be? Who would be the ultimate winner?! Would it be Lin Han, the subdivision disciple, or Lin Juedao, the Outer Residence¡¯s Gifted Genius Disciple?¡± Finally, the dust settled and everyone could see the scene in the survival arena. Lin Juedao, who held a changdao, had slashed an ancient bell of pure gold. The knife Qi moved with great ease and was terrifying, yet it could not cut open the giant golden bell. ¡°It was actually blocked!¡± ¡°Moving Dragon Palm, Quick Draw Sword, Thirteen Gleaming Swords¡­ And now he¡¯s activated the golden bell defensive martial art. This Lin Han, could he be some evildoer? Why would he know so many powerful martial arts otherwise?¡± All around, the Outer Residence disciples were shocked beyond belief. Even the big shots of the various Sect Residences nodded their heads slightly as they looked at Lin Han. They were originally very much indifferent to this Outer Residence Competition but they never expected a peerless genius to emerge. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! My Killing Knife Art can cut through anything yet your defensive cover that was formed using True Element actually managed to stop my Killing Trio of Knives? I don¡¯t believe it!¡± At this moment, Lin Juedao had a crazed expression on his face as he roared, raising his changdao once more in preparation for another slash. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± However, Lin Han suddenly exclaimed. ¡°Swish!¡± His sword was unsheathed. A beam of sword-light rang out like a sudden clap of thunder before it suddenly stabbed into the changdao in Lin Juedao¡¯s hands. Clang! Lin Juedao¡¯s expression shifted before the changdao in his hand was sent flying. ¡°Qiang!¡± The next moment, a beam of sword-light came slashing towards him again. ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Pfft¡± A murderous sword knew no mercy. A stroke of cold sword-light had cut off Lin Juedao¡¯s right arm and his blood spilled onto the survival arena. ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Juedao howled in pain before he fell to the ground. ¡°Swish!¡± Lin Han sheathed his sword and walked towards Lin Juedao, looking down on the man on the ground before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, the only person who¡¯ll die a terrible death is you.¡± ¡°Lin Han! Lin Han, you cut off my right arm?! You cut off the arm I use to wield my sword¡­¡± At this moment, Lin Juedao had completely fallen apart. He screamed and howled, his eyes staring into Lin Han¡¯s own like a malicious spirit. ¡°You little sh*t, kill me if you dare to! Just kill me!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of bones cracking suddenly echoed. It was Lin Han; he had stepped on and subsequently broke Lin Juedao¡¯s left arm. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you but I do want to cripple you. I want you to feel the hopelessness of being humiliated by countless people and see just how scary it is!¡± Lin Han smiled coldly. His tone was cold and bitter, exuding an air that was enough to scare anyone. ¡°Lin Han actually crippled Lin Juedao?!¡± At the same time, Lin Meier, who was standing a short distance away, staggered and almost fell to the ground. Lin Juedao being crippled meant she had lost her supporter. All the efforts she had poured into Lin Juedao this past year were all in vain now¡­ She had fallen to Hell from Heaven and this made Lin Meier feel deep despair and panic. ¡°Lin Han!¡± ¡°Lin Han!¡± ¡°Lin Han!¡± At this moment, roaring cheers suddenly erupted all around. It was the countless Outer Residence disciples! They all had their eyes on Lin Han now and their gazes revealed a deep admiration. Lin Han¡¯s popularity had reached its peak at this moment! At this time, even Lin Tian, Lin Xue, and Lin Ruyan, who were all ranked in front of Lin Han, were completely overshadowed by him. A moment later, Lin Juedao was dragged out of the arena like a dead dog. The elimination battle continued. The Outer Residence disciples left the arena one by one after their losses. Lin Han, on the other hand, gradually became the new champion of the new generation of Outer Generation disciples. Even Lin Tian did not dare to say anything. Lin Han¡¯s horrifying strength and bloody killing methods had left everyone in awe. Half a day passed by and the elimination battle finally came to an end. Out of the hundreds of people, twenty-five were chosen to participate in the next Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party. ¡°Next, the second round of the competition begins!¡± The same Inner Residence elder announced and the ranking match officially began The ranking match was also in the form of a one-on-one battle. However, what made Lin Han slightly dumbfounded was that every opponent he was matched up against would immediately admit defeat without even sending out a single move. That was until he ended up in the survival arena against Lin Ruyan. ¡°Lin Han, I¡¯ll be going all out,¡± said Lin Ruyan solemnly. ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Han nodded his head. ¡°Sword Art of the Frozen Heart!¡± Lin Ruyan unsheathed a thin sword from her waist and immediately stabbed at Lin Han repeatedly. The air temperature instantly became extremely cold It was still the same sword technique but Lin Han could tell that Lin Ruyan¡¯s technique had improved quite a bit since she had battled against him yesterday. However, Lin Ruyan was still not much of a threat to Lin Han. Clang! The whistling of a sword suddenly rang. ¡°Bang, dong!¡± The longsword in Lin Han¡¯s hand tore through the air, cutting through it like cold electricity, and sent the thin sword in Lin Ruyan¡¯s hand flying. ¡°I¡¯ve lost,¡± said Lin Ruyan with a bitter smile. She originally thought she could resist one or two moves from Lin Han. However, it seemed that Lin Han had deliberately allowed her to make her move first, otherwise, he would have long defeated her in a single move. ¡°What a monster¡­¡± muttered Lin Ruyan before she descended the arena. Despite her mysterious identity, she had never seen a freak like Lin Han. Be it palm techniques, body martial arts, defensive martial arts, or even sword techniques, he was extremely powerful. Lin Ruyan did not believe it in the beginning but it seemed now that there really were all-rounded geniuses learning martial arts. Lin Han was definitely one of these geniuses. ¡°Monster?¡± Lin Han¡¯s perception was stronger now after it was reformed by the Golden Spirit Fire so he had immediately heard Lin Ruyan¡¯s muttering, which made the corner of his lips twitch. After defeating Lin Ruyan, who was third, Lin Han wanted to take the first place, which meant his next opponent was¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a while.¡± Lin Xue stood in the survival arena, a smile on his face. Lin Han nodded slightly at his statement. Lin Han could feel hostility from Lin Xue. ¡°I don¡¯t know, how many of Lin Han¡¯s techniques can Lin Xue resist?¡± ¡°Lin Xue is the most mysterious disciple of our Outer Residence so nobody knows what he¡¯s capable of. He might even be a dark horse who¡¯ll defeat Lin Han.¡± At this moment, many of the Outer Residence disciples seated outside the arena were discussing amongst themselves. ¡°Make your move,¡± said Lin Han calmly at Lin Xue. ¡°If you¡¯re able to block this one move of mine, I¡¯ll immediately admit defeat.¡± Lin Xue suddenly said, a mysterious smile on his face. ¡°Hm¡± As soon as his words fell, Lin Xue suddenly closed his eyes. ¡°Huh? Why did Lin Xue close his eyes?¡± ¡°Is he mulling over something?¡± All around, doubt flashed across the disciples¡¯ faces and even the Inner Residence elder hosting the competition showed a look of curiosity. What was this Lin Xue doing? Could he be stalling for time? Just as everyone was puzzling over his move, Lin Han¡¯s expression suddenly shifted. At this moment, he could feel a strange, invisible force corroding towards himself. ¡°Mental force?¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes glimmered. The next moment, Lin Han closed his eyes slowly as well. In the survival arena, the two people who were supposed to be in a fierce battle were now facing each other with their eyes closed, the silence almost unnerving. The Outer Residence disciples were struck dumb. What was going on? At this moment, the Inner Residence Elder¡¯s expression shifted slightly as if finally realizing something. Chapter 24 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At this moment, the entire survival arena was enveloped in an eerie silence. Lin Han and Lin Xue were facing each other with their eyes closed, which made the quiet atmosphere almost stifling. Everyone could not take their eyes off the two people in the arena but they did not know what the pair of people in the arena were doing. However, the seemingly peaceful survival arena was actually brimming with danger for at this moment, a danger which none of the ordinary martial artists could see¡­ In the survival arena, a vaguely transparent Five-Claw Golden Dragon had appeared behind Lin Han. It was in a spirit-like state and it roared into the sky, its majesty overflowing. Behind Lin Xue, on the other hand, appeared a tall spirit-like image. It was dressed head to toe in black armor with a battle dagger-axe in its hand, its murderous intent through the roof. One was the spirit of a dragon and the other was a valiant and brave armored soldier. Nobody could see this scene because only a special group of people that could see through the spirit realm could watch everything unfold with their own eyes. ¡°How is that possible? The Yan Kingdom is a desolate place yet two Spirit Masters were awakened at the same time? How is that possible at all?¡± At this moment, a suspicious figure enveloped in a black robe, who stood in one of the courtyards of the Outer Residence, exclaimed in shock. This black-robed figure was the mysterious ¡°Uncle Ghost¡± that Lin Ruyan talked about! At this moment, Uncle Ghost slowly looked towards the direction of the survival arena in the Inner Residence. His eyes, which resembled two will-o¡¯-the-wisps, looked out from under the black robe and through the void as he watched the scene unfold in the survival arena. He could not stop the shiver that ran through his body. Spirit Masters specialized in cultivating their spirits, making them the direct opposite of Warriors who cultivated their physical bodies and their Qi-blood. Spirit Masters possessed countless unpredictable abilities, which made them one of the most mysterious and most respected Cultivators in the Lingwu Continent. Even in the oldest Sects and Clans, Spirit Masters were rare and most of them would usually be Acquired Spirit Masters. Out of millions of Warriors, there would usually only be one person that would have the aptitude to become an Acquired Spirit Master. Besides that, out of all these millions of Acquired Spirit Masters, there might only be one person that could awaken to become an Innate Spirit Master. It could be seen from this the rarity and value of Innate Spirit masters. As for souls, there were many different forms and kinds, and most Spirit Masters were those that realized they could become Acquired Spirit Masters. Therefore, they spent a lot of time catching ancient and powerful Spirit Beasts to absorb into their souls for their own use. Innate Spirit Masters, on the other hand, had their own souls within themselves, such as the ones behind Lin Han and Lin Xue right now. Only people who have cultivated their souls to a certain level could see what was going on right now so no matter how strong a regular Warrior was, they would never be able to witness the ongoing battle. Therefore, what made Spirit Masters so terrifying was their ability to kill a person through their soul, turning that person into a body with no thoughts. Abilities like these could never be guarded against. Therefore, the term ¡®Spirit Master¡¯ was a mysterious and fearsome name that was also valuable and rare on the Lingwu Continent. Besides that, as Spirit Masters naturally had powerful souls, they were also natural Alchemists, Armorers, and Spirit Array Masters. Therefore, once a Spirit Master was discovered, they would definitely be sought after by countless influential powers, since no matter how low-ranking the Spirit Master was, they would still be extremely valuable. ¡°I never expected for two Innate Spirit Masters to appear in such a remote place. However, from the looks of their state, they must be very new to this cultivation so they can¡¯t put anything to use at all. They¡¯re even worse than Level One Spirit Masters.¡± Uncle Ghost muttered to himself but he knew that if these pair of young men did not meet an early death, they would definitely become major players in the future. ¡°Huh? This Lin Han, who has been very close to Young Miss recently, not only has a powerful soul, his physical body is quite impressive as well. His Qi-blood is vigorous¡­ He¡¯s so young yet he¡¯s already so talented in martial arts and spiritual arts, truly a genius¡­¡± Uncle Ghost¡¯s voice then gradually disappeared in the wind. Howl! At this moment, the roar of a dragon rang out suddenly in the revival arena. It was the semi-transparent dragon soul behind Lin Han! It was currently spiraling its strong body as it roared into the sky, an aura of majesty surrounding it. This stunning scene could only be ¡°seen¡± by Lin Xue. ¡°Roar!¡± The next moment, the armored soldier behind Lin Xue roared violently as well. With his battle dagger-ax in hand, he rushed forwards. ¡°Hum¡± Although Lin Han had both his eyes closed tightly, he could ¡°see¡± clearly what was going on. The vicious soul-like armored soldier opposite him was rushing towards him with an intent to kill. ¡°Roar!¡± At this moment, Lin Han could feel his heart and mind wavering. He instantly felt like his own soul was being poured into the body of the soul-like dragon behind him. At this moment, Lin Han¡¯s soul and determination had morphed into a dragon that was roaring into the skies. ¡°Kill!¡± An inhuman roar sounded. It was Lin Xue¡¯s soul, the ¡°Armored Soldier¡±, who was roaring this time. Although his entire body was in a soul-like state, it looked like it actually had substance with the battle dagger-ax in his hand and the overflowing murderous intent. ¡°Roar!¡± Lin Han¡¯s soul had formed into a mighty Blue Dragon, its dragon eyes gleaming with power a king would have as its giant dragon claws slashed towards the Armored Soldier. ¡°Boom¡± The powerful dragon claws slashed downwards, tearing through the air like iron hooks tearing through silver, and slammed the Armored Soldier into the ground, shattering it completely. However, in the next moment, the Armored Soldier¡¯s battle dagger-axe stabbed upwards into the air, directly penetrating the dragon¡¯s massive body. ¡°Roar!¡± The massive dragon cried out and Lin Han felt a sharp pain in his soul. ¡°Kill!¡± However, Lin Han was tenacious and determined. He bellowed and the dragon echoed him, its roar shaking the sky as it swept its tail. Like a steel whip, the Armored Soldier was immediately smashed into pieces. ¡°Pfft¡± The next moment, in the survival arena, Lin Xue suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and all the color drained from his face. Opposite him, Lin Han slowly opened his eyes, though his expression showed that he was struggling. ¡°Was that the confrontation of souls and wills?¡± Lin Han muttered under his breath; when the Armored Soldier had stabbed its battle dagger-ax into the dragon¡¯s body, it felt like his soul had been stabbed instead, which was a terrifying feeling. ¡°Why did Lin Xue suddenly spit out blood?¡± ¡°Look at them both, their faces are so pale. What did they go through?¡± At this moment, the countless Outer Residence disciples had looks of confusion and puzzlement on their faces. From the very beginning until just now, all they had seen were Lin Han and Lin Xue standing in the survival arena facing each other before Lin Xue suddenly spat out blood. What kind of tricks were these two playing? ¡°Are you okay?¡± asked Lin Han suddenly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Lin Xue laughed bitterly and continued, ¡°It¡¯ll recover again.¡± It? Lin Han¡¯s eyes flashed because he knew that Lin Xue was talking about the Armored Soldier formed from his soul. ¡°What the h*ll was that?¡± asked Lin Han so that only the two of them could hear. ¡°Lingwu Continent¡¯s most mysterious and respected Cultivators, Spirit Masters.¡± Lin Xue seemed to know quite a lot as he suddenly answered. ¡°Spirit Master?¡± asked Lin Han in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lin Xue nodded his head and with an inexplicable smile, continued, ¡°Your soul is very strong, completely beyond my expectations. I hope you find your own spiritual cultivation method. Both you and I don¡¯t belong here anyway¡­ However, I¡¯ll be leaving now. I look forward to the day we meet again.¡± As soon as his words fell, Lin Xue seemed to have nothing else stopping him. He turned and left the arena before walking into the distance. Nobody knew where he was headed to¡­ ¡°Lin Han!¡± ¡°Lin Han!¡± The next moment, after a brief silence, the countless Outer Residence disciples erupted into cheers once more. Everyone looked at the green-robed figure in the arena with almost fanatical gazes. The figure was like an immortal monument that would never fall. Everyone knew now that as soon as Lin Han defeated the current Outer Residence Greatest Disciple, Lin Tian, he would become the first subdivision disciple to become the champion of the Outer Residence Competition. That would make him the greatest dark horse of both the Lin Clan¡¯s Sect Residence and its Outer Residence! Chapter 25 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°The final round, Lin Han versus Lin Tian!¡± The Inner Residence elder¡¯s voice rang out once more, pushing the current atmosphere at the scene all the way to its peak. At the moment, cheers erupted all around the survival arena. To these lowly Outer Residence disciples, Lin Han to some extent represented their wishes, their dreams. His rise to the top and his strength made the countless Outer Residence disciples surge with excitement. ¡°I surrender.¡± Lin Tian slowly walked up to the survival arena before he said so with a bitter smile. ¡°Surrender?¡± Lin Han looked at him suspiciously. As the best disciple recognized by the Outer Residence, Lin Tian was definitely not as simple as he seemed. Lin Han¡¯s strong perception made him feel that Lin Tian was a threat. However, he had just surrendered? ¡°Outer Residence Greatest Disciple!¡± ¡°Lin Han!¡± ¡°Outer Residence Greatest Disciple!¡± ¡°Lin Han!¡± ¡­ As soon as Lin Tian surrendered, all the Outer Residence disciples immediately erupted into roaring cheers. At this moment, fame indeed followed merit. Lin Han was now the newest and youngest champion of the Outer Residence Champion! At the same time, a place a distance away from the survival arena. Several young figures stood under an old tree. ¡°Quite a few talented disciples emerged in this year¡¯s Outer Residence Competition, especially that Lin Han, he has such explosive power. Besides, when he was battling that Lin Xue, they were both using abilities none of us could understand,¡± said a beautiful young woman, her tone carrying a hint of astonishment. This beautiful young woman was Lin Jiao, who was currently ranked fifth in the Inner Residence. ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of children making a scene.¡± Suddenly, the stern young man dressed in purple next to Lin Jiao spoke, his tone one of indifference. He was Lin Cai, a genius disciple ranked fourth in the Inner Residence. He possessed a powerful cultivation base. At this moment, he lazily pulled his gaze away from the nearby survival arena and continued, ¡°The Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party that is five days from now is the one you should be paying attention to. Besides, our target is only one, and that is the strongest one in the Inner Residence, Lin Gutian!¡± ¡°If Lin Han¡¯s cultivation base improves even more, with his incredible explosive power, he just might be aiming for top five of the Inner Residence as well,¡± Lin Jiao did not respond to Lin Cai¡¯s words and continued with her analysis. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll say, Lin Jiao, you¡¯re overestimating these good-for-nothings from the Outer Residence too much. Which year¡¯s Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party had an Outer Residence disciple enter the Inner Residence¡¯s top ten? Lin Cai laughed coldly before continuing, ¡°These Outer Residence disciples have no resources, so do you really think they¡¯ll be able to wreak havoc using their own power alone? Don¡¯t make me laugh. Just you watch, that Lin Han you talk about will finally understand what a true genius is once he goes to the Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party¡­¡± ¡­ While the pair of them conversed in the distance, some of the Outer Residence disciples watching the battle in the survival arena had seen them. ¡°Look! That¡¯s Lin Jiao and Lin Cai of the Inner Residence¡¯s top five!¡± ¡°Where¡­ Sh*t, it really is them, they were actually watching in secret the whole time!¡± Although there was still quite a distance between them, a group of Outer Residence disciples had recognized Lin Jiao and Lin Cai almost immediately. At this moment, even Lin Han had glanced over. He had quickly expanded his powerful perception and could instantly feel the strong True Element Power radiating off Lin Jiao and Lin Cai. ¡®She¡¯s at least at the peak of fifth tier martial arts, and that Lin Cai is practically a step away from sixth tier martial arts!¡± Lin Han felt his heart tremble. The Inner Residence was filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. They were only the fifth and the fourth, so he could just imagine how much more powerful the third and second were. They might even be in sixth tier martial arts already! Not to mention that legendary Lin Gutian, who was not only the mightiest disciple of the Inner Residence but also one of the five blessed children of Broken Sky City. His power must be even more immense. Some people believed that this Lin Gutian would soon achieve the realm of Martial Grandmaster. After the end of the Outer Residence Competition, Lin Han looked towards the upcoming Martial Arts Tea Party and his goal was to enter the top three of the Inner Residence. According to the information revealed by the Inner Residence disciple the last time, the rewards for the upcoming Martial Arts Tea Party were luxurious. As long as he could enter the top three, Lin Han might be able to obtain a set of top-grade martial arts and a stalk of the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. Lin Han could not miss an opportunity like this at all. ¡®I must get into those ranks!¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s eyes glimmered with determination. ¡­ Night had fallen and the night was as cold as water. At this moment, by a pool of water, Lin Han sat on the ground cross-legged. After obtaining the title of Outer Residence Greatest Disciple, Lin Han finally had time to properly sort out his abilities and analyze his current capabilities. Constantly coming to conclusions and constantly overcoming his shortcomings was a good habit that Lin Han had practiced since young. First, Lin Han was going to analyze his combat skills. Moving Dragon Palm, Quick Draw Sword, Thirteen Gleaming Swords, and Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps had all been realized to Pinnacle state while Majestic Golden Sun Cover was in Major Advancement. ¡®Moving Dragon Palm, Quick Draw Sword, and Thirteen Swimming Dragon Steps, one is a low-grade martial art and two are medium-grade martial arts. They¡¯re slowly becoming unable to keep up with me. The Thirteen Gleaming Swords and Majestic Golden Sun Cover are both high-grade martial arts so I can temporarily continue using them to understand them.¡¯ Lin Han analyzed inwardly. Along the path of learning martial arts and as his boundary gradually upgraded, he would need to discard inferior martial arts as needed or they would only become burdensome. In the end, Lin Han came to the conclusion that he needed to look for new fist techniques or palm techniques. Besides that, he also needed to pick up a new set of body martial arts. After completing the analysis of his martial arts, Lin Han moved on to analyzing his cultivation base. He was currently in fourth tier martial arts and the True Element that he cultivated from the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor was strong and solid, which made him a match for fifth tier martial arts. However, this was not enough. Lin Han¡¯s goals in the Inner Residence were the top three, or maybe even becoming the top. In other words, if he were to meet the scariest disciple, Lin Gutian, at the Martial Arts Tea Party, defeating him would be extremely difficult. However, after obtaining the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, Lin Han tried his best to fight for things he never dared to fight for previously. For example, fighting for the top spot in the Inner Residence through the Martial Arts Tea Party five days later! ¡®I¡¯m at the boundary of fourth tier martial arts right now, coupled with the doubled strength from Dragon Emperor Combat Body, I¡¯ll be able to fight against powerhouses in martial arts fifth tier. However, I definitely cannot go against those in sixth tier martial arts.¡¯ Lin Han realized that in order for him to take the top spot in the Inner Residence, he needed to one, obtain even stronger martial arts and two, break through into not only fifth tier martial arts but maybe sixth tier martial arts as well. This was the only way for him to amaze everyone with a single brilliant feat at the Martial Arts Tea Party five days away. After he was done with his analysis, Lin Han heaved a long breath. However, at this time, he suddenly thought of his battle with Lin Xue during the day and the spiritual power he had used. ¡®Spirit Master, cultivating spiritual power is a mysterious path.¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s gaze glimmered slightly before he slowly closed his eyes so that he could use his mind to communicate with the everlasting Golden Spirit Fire in his head. The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor bestowed upon Lin Han the most powerful gifts he would need on his path as a Warrior¡ªTrue Element, his physical body, and Qi-blood. The Golden Spirit Fire in his head, on the other hand, Lin Han guessed that it corresponded with his will and soul, which was what he needed to walk the path¡­ Of a Spirit Master. Chapter 26 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Under the rays of moonlight, Lin Han wore a green shirt. He sat down on the floor with a calm expression. Right at this moment, his eyes remained tightly closed. He was trying to build a bond with the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind in order to induce and activate his spiritual power. During the Outer Residence Competition, Lin Xue unintentionally introduced Lin Han to a whole new field of martial arts full of mystery. ¡°Buzz¡± Suddenly, Lin Han felt a quiver in his spirit. His eyes remained closed, yet he was able to ¡°see¡± that there was an ancient and vigorous Five-Claw Golden Dragon hovering above him in the sky. The dragon¡¯s roar shot up into the sky as if a crack of thunder exploded through time itself. Lin Han was mildly taken aback. After he regained his focus, he realized that his spirit had left his physical body and had assimilated into the Five-Claw Golden Dragon on top of his head. In an instant, Lin Han felt as if he had transformed into an ancient golden dragon, howling and lingering at high altitude, soaring higher into the sky. Right then, his spirit became one with the ancient dragon. Lin Han¡¯s dragon eyes glimmered and looked down. He immediately saw that there was a delicate young man sitting at the pond below him, eyes tightly closed with a calm expression. It was his own body! ¡®Did my spirit¡­ Really leave my physical body?¡¯ Lin Han thought. This amazing scene was incredibly shocking for Lin Han. The path of the Spirit Master was indeed mysterious and limitless. ¡°Tap tap¡± Right at that moment, a servant from the Lin Clan Sect Residence walked past from a nearby place. The servant saw Lin Han¡¯s figure seated right beside the pond. His gaze was one of admiration. ¡°To be training at this hour, he indeed deserves to be the master of the new generation in the Outer Residence!¡± Having said that, the servant shook his head and left after exhaling a sigh. During the entire process, the servant never knew that there was an ancient and powerful Five-Claw Golden Dragon right above the pond, in the form of a soul. The dragon¡¯s eyes glimmered with extraordinary colors and it was fixated on him. ¡°As expected, normal warriors will not be able to notice my spirit and Spirit Beast,¡± Lin Han murmured. Next, Lin Han looked at the servant again. Lin Han then saw the spirit of the servant ¡ª It was very tiny, and it resided in his physical body. Lin Han had a feeling that if he swung his dragon claw at the servant, that fragile spirit would be destroyed immediately. ¡°The path of the Spirit Master was indeed very mysterious. It¡¯s hard to defend against these spiritually-related techniques.¡± Lin Han exclaimed softly. He then made the dragon soul disappear in the sky and his own spirit returned to his body. At the same spot, Lin Han slowly opened his eyes. He was very certain that his talent for becoming a Spirit Master was related to the Golden Spirit Fire. This was because he understood that his potential had been next to nothing in the past. It was the Golden Spirit Fire that transformed his entire Essence, Qi and Spirit. It even transformed his entire spiritual level. ¡°This morning, before Lin Xue left, he said he hoped that I could find my own way of training as a Spirit Master. It seemed that even the Spirit Master needs constant training to strengthen the power of the Spirit Beast and in turn kill silently.¡± Lin Han murmured and immediately devoted his all to communicate with the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind. He had a feeling that the Golden Spirit Fire contained the personalized Spirit Master training method that he needed. However, after attempting for hours, his efforts were still in vain. Within the darkness of his mind, the Golden Spirit Fire floated mid-air, burning in silence as if it would burn for eternity. No matter how hard Lin Han tried to communicate, he still could not get his mind into the space contained by the Golden Spirit Fire, nor stimulate the Golden Spirit Fire in any way. At that, the corner of Lin Han¡¯s mouth twitched. After a moment¡¯s thought, Lin Han decided to give up on communicating with the Golden Spirit Fire. He had an obscure feeling that he needed a special opportunity before he could start his spiritual training. Putting the matter of Spirit Master aside, Lin Han knew that the most important thing for him right then was to improve his strength in martial arts. After all, the Outer Residence Competition would be quickly followed by the Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party. His lack of time made things urgent. ¡­ The next day, Lin Han came out of the house and saw Xiao Nu, the maid, walked toward him with excitement on her face. ¡°Young Master! You¡­ Did you really come first in the Outer Residence?¡± The small face of Xiao Nu was filled with joy and excitement. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Lin Han smiled while nodding. ¡°Young Master you¡¯re so great!¡± Xiao Nu did not know how to express her excitement and ended up saying this with her cute tongue out. ¡°Is this where Lin Han stays?¡± Suddenly, a dignified voice appeared close by. A few people came into the yard. The one at the lead was a middle-aged man who wore elaborate clothing. His face was mighty even without anger, and the aura emanating his body was strong and powerful. Was it him? Lin Han recognized him immediately. The middle-aged man was the elder from Inner Residence that hosted the Outer Residence Competition. ¡°Good afternoon, Elder,¡± Lin Han respectfully greeted. ¡°The¡­ The elder?¡± A glint of terror flashed past Xiao Nu¡¯s expression and hid her small body behind Lin Han. She did not understand why these important people arrived at their small yard. ¡°You are not bad.¡± The Elder knew about Lin Han¡¯s talent. He smiled and said, ¡°You must have had a difficult life this past year in the Outer Residence. Due to your astonishing performance in the Outer Residence Competition, the elders in the clan have allowed you to stay in the Inner Residence.¡±f ¡°To stay in the Inner Residence?¡± Lin Han¡¯s gaze betrayed a hint of shock and surprise. The Inner Residence ¡ªwas the real core of the Lin Clan Sect Residence. Many Inner Residence disciples from the main division and elders lived there. If the Outer Residence were the slums of the residence, then the Inner Residence was the noble area. Only members that contributed greatly to the clan were qualified to stay within it and enjoy the best treatment from the clan. Right at this moment, he thought to himself, ¡®According to the elder, I¡¯m allowed to move into the Inner Residence?¡± Even most of the disciples in the Inner Residence were only granted permission to train in the Inner Residence, but not the right to stay in it. After a moment of silence, Lin Han started to realize the reason behind this development. It seemed that his immense talent had caught the attention of the clan elders. As expected, in this world, only the ones with real strength could speak. He needed to fight for everything he wanted. A few days ago, he was still a petty and low Outer Residence disciple from the subdivision that no one cared about. At this moment, the core people within the clan were notifying him directly that he could stay in the Inner Residence. There was a world of difference between the treatment he received before and after his rise. . Right then, seeing the shine in Lin Han¡¯s gaze, the elder sighed in relief. It would appear that Lin Han still had a sense of belonging towards the Lin Clan Sect Residence. After Lin Han gained his powers, the clan elders studied his past and realized that he was bullied and looked down on by the main division of the residence in the past year. The news had the elders immediately announce that the clan should put in their best efforts in building a relationship with Lin Han. They did not even hesitate to grant Lin Han direct entry to the Inner Residence in order to minimize the estrangement Lin Han might feel towards the clan. In actual fact, the clan elders had been overthinking the matter. When Lin Han left Changyun Village, his initial goal was to be successful in the main division of the residence and to go back to his village with pride and glory. Deep down in his heart, he still had a sense of belonging towards the Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°After entering the Inner Residence, you will have the right to enjoy the best treatment in the clan. Every month, the residence will distribute five hundred taels of gold and an Element Condensation Pill. Furthermore, the first floor of the martial arts hall will be fully opened to you.¡± The words left by the Inner Residence elder before leaving made Lin Han feel mildly astonished. . ¡®It seemed that the elders of the residence really put in the effort to make me feel at ease.¡¯ Lin Han thought Xiao Nu, on the other hand, had never been so shocked before. ¡®Since when did my Young Master become so important to the clan elders??¡¯ However, the fact that they were moving to the Inner Residence brought her over the moon. In Xiao Nu¡¯s heart, the Inner Residence surrounded by green mountains and clear water, with pavilions and halls built around it was the best place in the world. ¡°Xiao Nu, go pack our belongings. We are moving into the Inner Residence!¡± Lin Han looked at the excited girl beside him and said while he laughed. Chapter 27 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Han received close attention from the big shots and was granted permission to enter the Inner Residence! The news was indeed shocking enough to elevate the ambiance within the Lin Clan Sect Residence. Lin Han and Xiao Nu the maid moved into a pavilion surrounded by a pond in the Inner Residence. Countless people that they knew and some that could not even recognize came to congratulate them. Even the sill from the door frame was broken from the amount of foot traffic, which left Lin Han speechless. At the end of the day, he could only place a wooden sign in front of his pavilion, with ¡°Practicing Behind Closed Doors¡± written on it to calm the situation down. Right then. In the pavilion, Lin Han was switching between his palm, his sword and his steps that resembled a dragon hovering. During the Outer Residence Competition, he gained a lot of practical combat experience. Lin Han continued perfecting his martial arts. Although certain low-grade martial arts could be abandoned, if he could incorporate them into his natural moves, it might bring an exploding impact in the future. Within an hour, Lin Han felt that he gained a better understanding of the different martial arts he learned. When he used them in combat, it would be faster and stronger. After that, Lin Han tried to feel and understand his spirit and will. To the Spirit Master, this was a very mysterious training pathway. It required him to continuously feel, understand and expand. However, after several hours, Lin Han still could not obtain anything useful from the Golden Spirit Fire. ¡®Have my presumptions erred somehow?¡¯ Were there simply no spiritual training techniques available in the Golden Spirit Fire? ¡°What exactly went wrong¡­?¡± Lin Han frowned while thinking. Next, Lin Han left his uncertainty aside and started practicing the Majestic Golden Sun Cover. The Majestic Golden Sun Cover was the high-grade martial art obtained from Luo Feiyu. Once performed, a huge golden bell would appear outside the body, stopping any blade from reaching him. It was very powerful. Therefore, Lin Han planned to achieve the Pinnacle state for it as soon as possible. This was because by then, the Majestic Golden Sun Cover performed using the True Elements would have the toughness comparable to the high-grade weapons. For that entire morning, Lin Han had been staying in the pavilion, constantly practicing the Majestic Golden Sun Cover using the magnificent True Element from the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. ¡°Boom¡± A solid-looking golden bell covered Lin Han. The body of the bell seemed ancient, cold and tough. It was full of vigorous strength. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve achieved the Pinnacle state!¡± Lin Han showed a hint of joy in his expression. By then, even Lin Han exclaimed that his talent for martial arts was beyond incredible. At the same time. ¡°Is Lin Han, my clan brother here?¡± The voice sounded urgent, coming from outside of the pavilion. Lin Han stopped his training and stood up, his gaze glimmered. ¡®I had closed the door to reject visitors, and yet¡­¡¯ Lin Han pushed the pavilion¡¯s door open. He then saw several young disciples standing around the wooden sign that he placed, looking urgent and waiting nervously. All of these young disciples were from the Outer Residence. Lin Han even knew two of them. One was Lin Sha, the one that got a lesson from him during the registration, while the other one was Lin Yan that taught him previously during the Outer Residence Competition. Right then, Lin Yan saw Lin Han walking out, his face lit up with a smile. He walked forward and said, ¡°Lin Han clan brother, you finally came out.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Looking at a group of Outer Residence disciples that looked happy after seeing him, Lin Han¡¯s gaze glimmered with doubt and asked. ¡°A group of people from the Luo Family of the Governor¡¯s Residence has arrived at the battleground of the Outer Residence. They looked fierce and they specifically mentioned that they wanted to meet you, Lin Han, my clan brother. Some of our brothers went up to stop them, yet they were all badly injured by a disciple from the Governor¡¯s Residence named Luo Feiyun,¡± Lin Yan hurriedly explained the situation. ¡®Luo Family from the Governor¡¯s Residence? Luo Feiyun? What was his relationship with Luo Feiyu that I killed that day? Did the Governor¡¯s Residence find out that I killed Luo Feiyu?¡¯ In an instant, several thoughts came up in Lin Han¡¯s mind. However, his facial expression remained unchanged, looking calm, and said slowly, ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± ¡­ The center of the Outer Residence, in front of the battleground. ¡°Boom¡± A figure was easily blown away by a young man in white robes using his palm, falling on the ground. ¡°What rubbish, I thought the Lin Clan Sect Residence was very powerful. Right now it seems to be feeding a group of useless beings!¡± The young man in white smiled coldly and said. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Luo Feiyun, this is not the Governor¡¯s Residence, you¡¯re not allowed to misbehave!¡± ¡°After Lin Han, our clan brother arrives, he will definitely beat you up.¡± The surrounding disciples from the Outer Residence angrily said. The young man in the white robe was a genius disciple from Luo Family of the Governor¡¯s Residence, Luo Feiyun. He was at the fifth tier of martial arts, he was truly a fearsome force. ¡°Lin Han? Hah, you¡¯re exactly the person I¡¯m looking for!¡± Luo Feiyun smiled cruelly, saying, ¡°I suspect that Lin Han from your Lin Clan Sect Residence killed my younger brother Luo Feiyu, and left his corpse in the wilderness. I want to bring him back to the Governor¡¯s Residence for his retribution!¡± ¡°He was just trash, so what if he¡¯s dead?¡± A cold voice sounded from a nearby place. Followed by the sound, a tall and straight figure wearing a green shirt slowly appeared in everyone¡¯s vision. It was Lin Han! ¡°Look! Lin Han has arrived!¡± ¡°Lin Han clan brother, you finally came, please save us.¡± The group of disciples from the Outer Residence felt immediate relief upon Lin Han¡¯s arrival. This Luo Feiyun from Luo Family of the Governor¡¯s Residence was too powerful and the pressure made them feel breathless. In the Outer Residence, only the top disciple of the Outer Residence, Lin Han, could make everyone feel slightly secure. ¡°What did you say?!¡± Suddenly, Luo Feiyun¡¯s gaze darkened and with a cruel tone, he said. ¡°Did you just admit that you killed my brother, Luo Feiyu?¡± ¡°If you wanted to blame me for a crime, you would find endless ways to do it.¡± Lin Han looked calm. He glanced at Luo Feiyun and said, ¡°Since you suspect that I killed your brother, where is your evidence?¡± ¡°Evidence?¡± Luo Feiyun¡¯s expression immediately turned rigid. Before he came, he was just suspecting Lin Han, as the information said that Lin Han was only one of the people his brother met at the Broken Sky Forest. However, what made Luo Feiyun decide to stir trouble at the Lin Clan Sect Residence was that he heard about Lin Han and Luo Qingcheng killing the dragon-tiger beast together. Luo Qingcheng did not attempt to hide her thoughts about Lin Han from the Lin Clan Sect Residence and stated that he would be the next Lin Gutian. It made Luo Feiyun feel horrible, and he even developed a sense of hatred and jealousy towards Lin Han that he had never felt before. That was because Luo Qingcheng, the daughter of the governor, had always been thought of as the taboo of Luo Feiyun. The way Luo Qingcheng praised Lin Han, with little admiration in her pretty eyes, made Luo Feiyun extremely jealous. Therefore, Luo Feiyun came to Lin Clan Outer Residence with the excuse of getting revenge for his brother as he attempts to frame and murder Lin Han. However, right when Lin Han asked his question, Luo Feiyun suddenly had no idea how to answer. ¡°Yes, where is the evidence?¡± ¡°Luo Feiyun, you¡¯re just injuring people without a reason. How dare you to injure so many of our disciples from the Lin Clan Outer Residence!?¡± Having Lin Han as their back up, the disciples from the Outer Residence open their mouths in indignance. Listening to everyone¡¯s chastising, Luo Feiyun¡¯s expression turned even gloomier. He turned around and planned to leave temporarily. Lin Han only used two words, ¡°the evidence¡±, and had made him feel like falling into his own trap. ¡°Stop!¡± Suddenly, a cold voice shouted. It was Lin Han! ¡°What are you up to?¡± Luo Feiyun stopped and turned around with a gloomy look. ¡°What am I up to?¡± A cold arch appeared at the mouth corner of Lin Han. Qing! The long sword was withdrawn, splicing the air. An icy cold gleam of sword intent then pointed at Luo Feiyun immediately. ¡°Apologize to all the people that you injured. Or else, according to the clan law of Lin Clan Sect Residence, there¡¯s only one end to your story¡­ Death!¡± Death! When the last word dropped, a strong sense of killing intent arose and radiated from the body of Lin Han, as if an angry dragon was roaring towards the sky. Buzz! Suddenly, the temperature of the battleground seemed to turn freezing cold, with a sense of cruelness. Chapter 28 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Unwilling to apologize? One word, death! Simple, powerful, overbearing! At this moment, Lin Han¡¯s originally tranquil expression suddenly turned sharp, like a sword zipping through the air to cut the sky in half. ¡°What did you say?! ¡°You¡¯re nothing more than an Outer Residence disciple. So what if you¡¯re ranked first, how dare you speak to us from the Governer¡¯s Residence like that, you¡¯re acting regardless of the consequences!¡± A short distance away, several Governer¡¯s Residence¡¯s disciples behind Luo Feiyun stared menacingly at Lin Han, their eyes cold. At this moment, Luo Feiyun¡¯s face went ashen. This lowly Outer Residence disciple actually spoke to him like that? How dare he? ¡°Huh! I had originally planned on sparing you for the time being but now that just seems unnecessary.¡± Luo Feiyun¡¯s lips tugged into a shady smile, his eyes took on a sinister gleam and as he stared at Lin Han, his entire body surged with an imposing aura. His cultivation base was at the peak of fifth tier martial arts! A few of the Lin Clan¡¯s Outer Residence disciples inhaled deep breaths. This Luo Feiyun wanted to break into sixth tier martial arts right now? How terrifying! Many people looked at Lin Han, their eyes flashing with anxiety. Although Lin Han¡¯s strength raised everyone¡¯s spirits, his cultivation base was only at fourth tier martial arts. The gap between the pair of them was huge. ¡°Elder Brother Han, staying your hand will bring greater calm,¡± Lin Yan walked over to say softly. Lin Han did not reply. ¡°Boom¡± With one step forward, the aura enveloping Lin Han¡¯s body erupted with a loud bang as well. His True Element Vigor was like a howling gale and a crack of roaring thunder. It gradually grew until it could actually go head-to-head against Luo Feiyun¡¯s own aura. ¡°Such vigorous True Element!¡± Many of the Outer Residence disciples¡¯ eyes gleamed brightly. Maybe Lin Han was going to show them a miracle this time too! Boom! Luo Feiyun¡¯s expression was extremely gloomy; he no longer suppressed the vigorous True Element in his body and it erupted instantly. ¡°Five-Poison Killing Hand!¡± Luo Feiyun exclaimed, his eyes glimmering ruthlessly. This was an extremely evil martial arts set and was cultivated from immersing his hand in poison for forty-nine days. Once this move broke through even the tiniest bit of skin, the victim would die immediately. ¡°What a vicious move!¡± The people surrounding them hiked their eyebrows in shock. At the same time, Luo Feiyun had leaped towards Lin Han, his expression dark. The naked eye could see the True Element enveloping his hand but this True Element was pitch-black. It was filled with poison! ¡°You¡¯re nothing more than a fourth tier piece of trash. Die!¡± Luo Feiyun grinned nastily; he immediately used his most powerful, most ruthless martial art once the moment he attacked because he wanted to kill Lin Han with one swift strike. This way, even if Lin Han was killed, Lin Clan Sect Residence would not oppose the Governer¡¯s Residence for one of their dead Outer Residence disciples. ¡°I¡¯ll defeat you with one punch!¡± Suddenly, Lin Han exclaimed. His tone was as cold as ice. The next moment, under everyone¡¯s surprised gazes, Lin Han unexpectedly sheathed his longsword away before he sent a fist flying towards the rushing Luo Feiyun. ¡°That¡¯s too careless!¡± ¡°Brother Han, you mustn¡¯t underestimate your enemy!¡± At this moment, all the Outer Residence disciples surrounding them had anxious expressions as they instantly called out. As for the Governer¡¯s Residence disciples that were following Luo Feiyun, they merely sneered. ¡°This idiot wants to use his fists against Senior Luo Feiyun¡¯s Five-Poison Killing Han? He¡¯s really acting carelessly, how naive!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Lin Han, I think you¡¯re really digging your own grave!¡± Once he saw Lin Han rushing towards him with only his fist, Luo Feiyun was overjoyed. Has this Lin Han lost his mind? Lin Han actually wanted to meet force with force against his Five-Poison Killing Hand? After all, his Five-Poison Killing Hand was a half top-grade martial art! Sure enough, these Lin Clan Outer Residence disciples were truly idiotic since they could not even understand how frightful and formidable his martial arts were. Luo Feiyun mocked inwardly as his palm grew black with poisonous gas, becoming a truly terrifying sight. ¡°Moving Dragon Fist Technique!¡± exclaimed Lin Han suddenly. At this moment, he had integrated the conception of Moving Dragon Palm into his fist. ¡°Boom¡± The power of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor exploded in an instant and the vigorous Dragon Power True Element made Lin Han¡¯s fist glow with golden light. Dragon Emperor Combat Body! An explosion! Lin Han¡¯s combat power doubled instantly. Lin Han sneered inwardly; since this Luo Feiyun wanted him dead so bad, there was no need for him to show mercy either. Everyone nervously watched the next moment unfold on the combat arena. ¡°Boom¡± Fist and palm met. Crack! The sound of bones fracturing suddenly rang out. ¡°Ah!¡± The next moment, a painful howl could be heard. What accompanied this painful howl was a figure being blown away. Who was it? Everyone watched with wide eyes. ¡°That¡¯s Luo Feiyun!¡± ¡°Luo Feigyun has been sent flying by a single punch from Brother Lin Han!¡± Suddenly, the surrounding crowd erupted into shouts of surprise. Lin Han was still Lin Han; he was still the undefeated legend in the Outer Residence¡¯s disciples hearts! At this moment, countless people cheered, their expressions blazing as they looked at the green-robed figure standing in his place. He had sent Luo Feiyun flying with one punch yet he had not moved a muscle. Lin Han looked like a boulder embedded into the ground, never moving throughout the times. ¡°Such strong explosive power!¡± In the near distance, Lin Yan¡¯s eyes shined brightly. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± At this moment, the few Governer¡¯s Residence disciples who had originally prepared to watch a good show were now completely pale in the faces. Lin Han. How could this disciple from the Outer Residence of the Lin Clan Sect Residence be so strong? Even Luo Feiyun, who had fallen to the ground, was stunned. He was actually blown away by a single punch from Lin Han? ¡°Are you sure this is the Outer Residence and not the Inner Residence?¡± Luo Feiyun looked at the disciples that had tailed after him before he bellowed with rage. ¡°Don¡¯t question it. This is the Outer Residence. Suddenly, a cold voice sounded. Unbeknownst to everyone, Lin Han was already standing next to Luo Feiyun. ¡°What¡­ What are you doing?¡± As if he could suddenly feel the cold and biting murderous intent, Luo Feiyun¡¯s expression morphed into one of fear. ¡°Apologize,¡± said Lin Han, his tone cold. ¡°You¡­¡± Luo Feiyun¡¯s eyes burned with fury. ¡°Swish!¡± Lin Han unsheathed his sword. ¡°Clang!¡± A flash of sword-light split the air. ¡°Swish!¡± The next moment, Luo Feiyun shuddered violently. He touched his neck and realized that the skin there had been cut open by a slice of sharp sword Qi. However, he did not see Lin Han unsheath his sword at all. ¡°Apologize, otherwise the next time¡­ I¡¯m afraid my hand will slip and cut your neck off.¡± Lin Han¡¯s tone was murderous, his smile cold. Domineering! Assertive! An unconcealed threat! ¡°You¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡± Luo Feiyun¡¯s eyes flashed with fear for the first time. Immediately his body began trembling as he suppressed the sobs that threatened to rack his body. He slowly stood up before he turned to face the crowd of Lin Clan Outer Residence disciples. He bowed and said with a shaking voice, ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I ask for everyone¡­ for everyone to forgive me!¡± At this moment, the countless Outer Residence disciples were overjoyed. Lin Han truly was Lin Han! ¡°Very well, you can leave now.¡± Lin Han slowly turned around as if really planning to let Luo Feiyun go. Seeing this, Luo Feiyun silently turned his body. However, his originally fearful face immediately shifted into an overcast expression the next moment; deep in his eyes were villainy, hatred, and brutality. ¡®Lin Han! You embarrassed me completely today, this shame¡­ Just you wait until I get back to the Governer¡¯s Residence. I¡¯m going to gather all the Shadow Guards and order them to ambush you. I¡¯ll have them chop you into a thousand pieces and only then will this hatred for you in my heart vanish!¡¯ swore Luo Feiyun inwardly. However, on the surface, he acted as if he would never do anything like this again as he left with his tail between his legs, the Governer¡¯s Residence disciples trailing behind him. Luo Feiyun missed one thing, though. Just as he turned around, Lin Han¡¯s lips had also pulled into a mocking sneer¡­ Chapter 29 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation In a deserted alleyway somewhere in Broken Sky City. A few miserable-looking figures walked down the alley. It was Luo Feiyun and his posse of Governor¡¯s Residence disciples. At this moment, they were already far from Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°Elder Brother Yun, that Lin Han is despicable!¡± The few Governor¡¯s Residence disciples present were burning with rage. ¡°Lin Han¡­ He won¡¯t be complacent for long.¡± Suddenly, Luo Feiyun let out a cruel laugh before saying, ¡°Once I return to the Governor¡¯s Residence this time, I¡¯ll deploy all the Shadow Guards so that I can murder that boy as soon as he leaves that place. I¡¯ll have him cut into a thousand pieces!¡± The Shadow Guards? The Governor¡¯s Residence top-secret organization? The Governor¡¯s Residence disciples were shocked; they looked at Luo Feiyun¡¯s ruthless expression and felt chills run down their spines. It seemed that Lin Han was truly going to meet a tragic death. ¡°Hum¡± However, right at this moment, the air in the alley suddenly seemed to tremble slightly. A terrifyingly feeling that made their blood run cold suddenly emerged in their hearts. ¡°Why does it feel¡­like we¡¯re being watched by spirits?¡± Suddenly, one of the Governor¡¯s Residence disciples spoke. This sudden feeling was like¡­ Somebody was peeking into their souls? However, this idea that happened to them made the Governor¡¯s Residence disciples feel ridiculous about their own thoughts. They were in broad daylight, how could there be¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, a horrific wail sounded. It was Luo Feiyun¡¯s scream! ¡°What happened?!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?!¡± The few Governor¡¯s Residence disciples turned towards their side and they saw¡­ Luo Feiyun was kneeling on the ground and shrieking. His facial features started twisting as if he was enduring a terrible pain; it was like he was being tortured by an unseen force. ¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± As they watched this strange scene, these Governor¡¯s Residence disciples were scared witless and they quickly withdrew themselves. Luo Feiyun continued shrieking but the Governor¡¯s Residence disciples could not see anything at all. Suddenly, a strange chill rose through their bodies. ¡°Ah!¡± Finally, Luo Feiyun¡¯s shrieking came to an abrupt end. The next moment, he could only mumble out a few words, ¡°Spirit¡­ Spirit¡­ Dragon¡­¡± Thump! Luo Feiyun¡¯s body slumped forwards into the ground, his eyes wide open with fear as he breathed his last breath. ¡­ A pavilion somewhere in the Inner Residence of Lin Clan Sect Residence. An invisible Five-Clawed Golden Dragon spirit flew over from a distance away. After descending from the sky, it rushed into the body of a green-robed figure in the pavilion, disappearing from view. ¡°Huff!¡± Lin Han suddenly opened his eyes to heave a quick breath. ¡°The path of a Spirit Master really does depend on killing people formlessly¡­ My soul actually managed to kill another person¡¯s soul over such a large distance. Now that person is nothing more than a husk of flesh without thought. How scary,¡± murmured Lin Han. However, his eyes shone with excitement. ¡®Such a large distance and he suddenly died. No matter how capable the Governor¡¯s Residence is, it¡¯ll be impossible to find out who did it¡­¡¯ Lin Han thought to himself, a cold smirk pulling at his lips. ¡­ An hour later, Lin Han walked out of the pavilion. He had used quite a bit of spiritual power just now so it was time for him to relax and regenerate. Otherwise, it would harm his soul significantly. ¡°Lin Han, you¡¯re an Outer Residence disciple yet you managed to defeat Luo Feiyun, what an incredible feat!¡± Suddenly, a cold voice sounded. Lin Han furrowed his eyebrows and turned to look at the source a short distance away. A thin figure with a black longsword strapped to their back walked towards him past the pond. It was him! Lin Duanjian? The genius disciple ranked third among the Inner Residence disciples and had appeared at the Outer Residence Competition. What was he doing here? Lin Han¡¯s eyes flashed with confusion as he said, ¡°I wonder why Brother Lin Duanjian is here?¡± ¡°To kill you!¡± Lin Duanjian¡¯s gaze suddenly became extremely sharp as he immediately unsheathed his pitch-black longsword. Clang! A pitch-black sword Qi split the air like a black flash of lightning piercing the calm. Rumble! The ground right before Lin Han¡¯s feet broke open. It was only a millimeter off from Lin Han¡¯s position; if that sword-light was a little nearer, it would have completely cut off Lin Han¡¯s feet. At this moment, Lin Han¡¯s body did not move but his eyes glazed over coldly in an instant. He could not move because that sword-light was too fast. It was extremely sharp and extremely murderous! This Lin Duanjian had achieved sixth tier martial arts! Lin Han could not ward him off. Lin Han did not say anything but his cold eyes peered at Lin Duanjian. His feet did not move even one millimeter and his body was as straight as a pike. He would rather break than bend! ¡°I have to give you props, your mind is quite strong.¡± Lin Duanjian suddenly laughed, however, his laugh carried a sense of murderous intent. ¡°Outer Residence disciple Lin Jian was my younger brother and even if all of you made him sign the waiver, you still killed him in the end. So, I¡¯ll kill you as well but not right now¡­ At the Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party, I¡¯ll kill you under the eyes of thousands of people so that your name will be removed from the Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s books.¡± As soon as his words fell, Lin Duanjian¡¯s smile took on a cruel edge before he turned and left. As Lin Duanjian¡¯s figure gradually disappeared¡­ In his position, Lin Han¡¯s expression was ice-cold as he stared at the ground that had shattered in a single attack from the sword; the rocks and the soil had completely crumbled. It was truly a sign of pure destruction. At this moment, Lin Han truly realized the gap between him and the top three Inner Residence disciples was extremely large. ¡°Today¡¯s disgrace at the sword means I¡¯ll pay you back in blood by cutting off your head, Lin Duanjian!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes were cold but his murderous intent boiled as he vowed silently to him. ¡­ That night was chilling as water. In a pavilion somewhere in the Inner Residence stood Lin Han. He gazed through the window to look at the moon. The Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party was four days away so he needed to improve himself as quickly as possible. The skills of a Spirit Master were extremely strange and terrifying. Lin Han felt that if were to step into the practice of a Spirit Master, he would definitely bring to himself a lot more powerful skills. However, Lin Han had always failed to communicate with the Golden Spirit Fire in his mind, which made him slightly disappointed. How was he going to let himself walk the path of a Spirit Master? It was not like Lin Han had not considered using his Blue Dragon soul to kill Lin Duanjian. However, Lin Han had realized that any time he used his soul to approach Lin Duanjian, an indistinct sword intent seemed to surround Lin Duanjian. If he were to use his soul to attack Lin Duanjian, the dragon might be cut by this shapeless sword intent. This discovery made Lin Han instantly realize that even if a Spirit Master was strange and mysterious, they might not only be in fatal danger if they went against a Warrior that was much stronger than them, they might even end up with a broken soul. ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡­¡± Suddenly, the sounds of light footsteps sounded. After the transformation of the Golden Spirit Fire, Lin Han¡¯s five senses had strengthened greatly and he had immediately heard the footsteps. Who was it coming here so late at night? ¡°Lin Han, are you in the pavilion?¡± The soft and clear voice of a young lady sounded from the outside. This familiar voice, it was¡­ Lin Ruyan? Lin Han¡¯s eyes glimmered; what was she doing here? Creak! The red mahogany door to the pavilion was pushed open before Lin Ruyan walked in slowly. The young lady was beautiful, her skin embellished with rouge. She was dressed in a light green gown that glistened in the candlelight. Lin Ruyan seemed to notice Lin Han¡¯s doubtful gaze. She smiled and walked over lightly, her slender hips swaying lightly as her pale wrists followed the moment. She made her way before Lin Han, her eyes roaming before she lightly said, ¡°Lin Han, I want to make a deal with you.¡± Chapter 30 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Deal? What deal?¡± Lin Han watched the beautiful lady before him yet his expression was indifferent. Seeing Lin Han¡¯s indifferent expression made exasperation grow in Lin Ruyan¡¯s heart. ¡®Is this stupid Lin Han pretending to be indifferent or is he really entirely uninterested in a beauty like me?¡¯ However, Lin Ruyan felt that the former had a higher possibility since she could see the smiling expression threatening to tug at Lin Han¡¯s eyes. ¡°Very well, Lin Han, you¡¯re actually pretending to be so calm in front of me!¡± Lin Ruyan said, feigning anger. ¡°No, I treat everyone like this.¡± Lin Han waved his hand dismissively, the smile on his face accentuating his look of innocence. ¡°Okay, enough with the jokes.¡± Lin Ruyan scrunched her nose before her beautiful eyes gleamed as she smiled. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not the one that wants to make a deal with you. It¡¯s actually another person so I¡¯m only here to help him pass a message.¡± ¡°Who is this person?¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes flashed with confusion. ¡°An uncle of mine called ¡®Uncle Ghost¡¯.¡± As Lin Ruyan spoke, her eyes too flashed with confusion. ¡°Uncle Ghost has always been mysterious, he basically never interacts with other people. I wonder why he asked me to seek you out this time. He said that I only need to tell you two words and then you¡¯ll definitely follow me to go see him.¡± ¡°What words?¡± Lin Han¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Spirit Master,¡± said Lin Ruyan slowly, enunciating both words clearly. What? Spirit Master? Lin Han¡¯s flashed with barely-concealed shock but he quickly calmed down. He looked at Lin Ruyan and said, ¡°Bring me to him.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Ruyan had not understood what ¡®Spirit Master¡¯ represented since she was only here to pass on Uncle Ghost¡¯s message. ¡­ An hour later, night fell. Lin Han stepped into an old courtyard while Lin Ruyan stood at its entrance and said, ¡°Uncle Ghost is inside. Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Han nodded his head before walking deep into the courtyard. The courtyard under the night seemed reserved and tranquil, the moonlight seemingly unable to penetrate the darkness of the small courtyard. A spooky atmosphere permeated the entire courtyard. Lin Han thought to himself, ¡®How did this Uncle Ghost know I¡¯m on the path of cultivating as a Spirit Master. ¡®Besides, this deal he¡¯s talking about, could it be related to the cultivation of a Spirit Master?¡¯ Could this Uncle Ghost be a mysterious Spirit Master? Even if he had a million questions, Lin Han knew that all his questions would be answered once he saw this ¡®Uncle Ghost¡¯ Lin Ruyan spoke about. Under the night, the sprinkling of stars in the sky shone down on the deserted courtyard, making it look dim but serene. Lin Han continued walking inwards, slightly warier now. Suddenly, as Lin Han expanded his perception, he discovered a peculiar aura and he turned around quickly. Unbeknownst to him, a strange figure enveloped in a black robe had appeared behind him. Shock flashed through Lin Han¡¯s eyes; within the hood of the robe were two green will-o¡¯-the-wisps that burned like a pair of ghostly eyes that stared at him. ¡°Elder, you are?¡± Lin Han felt a chill run through his body but he greeted the figure with a fist salute. ¡°I¡¯m the Uncle Ghost that Young Miss spoke about,¡± a hoarse voice said from within the black robe. Young Miss? That should be referring to Lin Ruyan. Lin Han¡¯s eyes gleamed before he went straight to the point and said, ¡°Senior Uncle Ghost, what deal did you want to make with me?¡± ¡°I merely want to form good ties with you,¡± said Uncle Ghost slowly. ¡°Good ties?¡± Lin Han was confused. ¡°You must be distressed about how to truly enter the path of cultivating as a Spirit Master, right?¡± Uncle Ghost seemed to have seen right through Lin Han as he spoke with a husky voice and a smile on his face. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Lin Han nodded his head. This Uncle Ghost was too mysterious; he could be a Spirit Master with a profound cultivation base. Besides that, he harbored no ill intentions towards Lin Han, so there was no need to hide his cultivation as a Spirit Master from this person as he had already discovered it. ¡°You were awakened as an Innate Spirit Master so there definitely exists a Spirit Master cultivation method that¡¯s especially yours deep inside your soul. Maybe it was passed on to you from your ancestors or maybe it was granted to you by the Heavens¡­ No matter which one it is, if you want to obtain that cultivation method, you¡¯ll need to go through a soul guiding process.¡± As Uncle Ghost spoke, he suddenly placed a finger right in the middle of Lin Han¡¯s eyebrows before a glimmer of light entered Lin Han¡¯s mind directly. The next moment, before Lin Han could react, Uncle Ghost had already retracted his hand. However, Lin Han had managed a glimpse at the very last moment; the hand that had appeared from under Uncle Ghost¡¯s robe was actually made entirely of bone! Could it be that this black robe was wrapped around a¡­ ¡°Follow the ¡®Soul Guidance Art¡¯ I just gave you and I hope you¡¯ll be able to find your own cultivation method as a Spirit Master in your soul,¡± said Uncle Ghost slowly, his voice hoarse. Soul Guidance Art? At this moment Lin Han could ¡°see¡± that there was a new mysterious incantation in his memories. Soul Guidance Art was like a key for Spirit Masters in cultivation. Although it was not valuable, it was essential to opening the chains around one¡¯s soul in the very beginning. At this moment, Lin Han finally had a clear understanding. It seemed that he could not find his own cultivation method from the Golden Spirit Fire because he did not have this ¡°key¡±. ¡°Thank you, Senior Uncle Ghost.¡± Lin Han gave him a solemn fist salute before saying, ¡°If Uncle Ghost meets any difficulties in the future, I¡¯ll definitely do my best to help you within my means.¡± Lin Han knew this Uncle Ghost had seen his potential as a Spirit Master and had therefore decided to establish good ties with him. It did not matter if it was out of kindness or out of personal gain. No matter what, this Uncle Ghost had helped him a lot. Lin Han was by no means an ungrateful person but he was not a saint either. Therefore, when he had made his promise, he had specified that he would help if he was capable. A promise like this carried a small scheme that Uncle Ghost could naturally pick up on. He roared with laughter before saying, ¡°I never expected that you would be such a cunning young man.¡± Uncle Ghost naturally did not take the matter to heart. All he needed was his good ties with Lin Han. Forget the tiny Yan Kingdom, Spirit Masters were extremely rare even in the entirety of the Lingwu Continent so each Spirit Master was a treasured existence. This also meant the competitions between Spirit Masters were dangerous and deadly so gaining one more friend was better than gaining an enemy. ¡­ In the dead of the night, Lin Han bid goodbye to Lin Ruyan and Uncle Ghost before directly returning to his own pavilion, eager to begin practicing ¡®Soul Guidance Art¡¯. This time, he could obviously feel the difference in his soul; it was as if his soul was merging with the Golden Spirit Fire according to its own rhythm. What made Lin Han even more overjoyed was that under the guidance of Soul Guidance Art, his soul was finally entering the Golden Spirit Fire. ¡°Boom¡± Within the Golden Spirit Fire, Lin Han no longer saw the image of the wide Ancient Land, instead, he saw an ancient book floating inside it. The ancient book was in a spirit form and it seemed like it had been there for eternity, unaffected by the passage of time. Lin Han¡¯s expression shifted and the ancient book slowly flipped to its first page. ¡°Hum¡± At this moment, a spirit-like eyeball suddenly appeared floating above the first page. Information immediately rushed into Lin Han¡¯s mind. ¡°The path of cultivation for a Spirit Master begins at the lowest¡ªLevel One Spirit Master through to Level Nine Spirit Master. The ¡®Soul Divine Book¡¯ is the first mysterious book for Spirit Masters then and now. It has been passed down from ancient times and has nine pages. Every time you achieve a new boundary, you can flip to the next page and each page contains a specialized Divine Ability for Spirit Masters.¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes glimmered; this spirit-like eyeball floating above the first page was definitely a type of specialized Divine Ability. This also meant that he had successfully become a Level One Spirit Master! The next moment, Lin Han communicated with the spirit-like eyeball floating above the first page of the ¡®Soul Divine Book¡¯. He immediately understood its function, which was to peep at the statuses of Warriors¡¯ cultivation bases. Lin Han originally thought this ability was a function of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor but it seemed now that it was his soul¡¯s ability instead. Lin Han then tried to flip to the second page of the ¡®Soul Divine Book¡¯ but he could not get it to budge no matter what since his spiritual power was lacking. Lin Han immediately understood that his soul needed to be at a certain level of strength before he could flip to the second page and become a Level Two Spirit Master. Lin Han had learned from Uncle Ghost that to cultivate his soul, he first needed to catch some natural Spirit Beasts. However, Spirits Beasts, just like Spirit Masters, were incredibly rare in Lingwu Continent and extremely hard to find. Secondly, if he wanted to cultivate by himself, his progress would definitely be very slow. Before he left, Uncle Ghost had told Lin Han that Spirit Masters had stages, which were Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pinnacle. At this moment, Lin Han could feel that his soul and mind were incredibly weak. Lin Han knew that since he had just successfully guided his soul, he was unfortunately only a Level One Beginner Spirit Master, which was also the weakest Spirit Master. In this regard, Lin Han was not the least disappointed. He had successfully guided his soul and obtained the ancient mysterious book, ¡®Soul Divine Book¡¯. Besides that, he had also activated his first specialized Divine Ability as a Spirit Master, which was that floating spirit-like eyeball. Lin Han had named it ¡°Sky Eye¡±. With his Sky Eye open, he could see through the void now. However, Lin Han knew that as his spiritual power grew, this Sky Eye Divine Ability would definitely not be limited to only peeping at the cultivation bases of Warriors. Lin Han then continued to cultivate the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor in his pavilion. He wanted to break into the peak of fifth tier martial arts, maybe even sixth tier, before the Martial Arts Tea Party. Otherwise, forget the mysterious and powerful Lin Gutian, even Lin Duanjian at the third rank could easily defeat and kill Lin Han. The next day. The elder from the Inner Residence once again paid him a visit, bringing with him five hundred taels and one Element Condensation Pill. Lin Han was overjoyed; he immediately swallowed the Element Condensation Pill but he realized that after it was absorbed by the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, his True Element had only increased a little. This instance shocked Lin Han. After a brief consideration, Lin Han discovered the reason. His cultivation of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor meant that he was cultivating an extremely vigorous and boundless Dragon Power True Element. Therefore, a successful breakthrough required a lot of powerful energy. It was evident that one Element Condensation Pill was no longer enough to fulfill his needs. Lin Han was slightly worried at this but he was also happy at the same time. The more powerful energy the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor required, the more powerful he would become after achieving its breakthrough. Once he broke through, he would definitely sweep through the Warriors on the same rank as him. ¡°The Martial Arts Tea Party is four days away. I should seek out breakthrough opportunities since waiting with my clan is no longer an option.¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes glazed over with determination. He was going to enter Broken Sky Forest once more and this time he needed to venture in deeper. He needed to look for spiritual medicine to aid his breakthrough process. Once he set his mind to this, Lin Han walked out of his pavilion and headed in a certain direction. Before entering the Broken Sky Forest, he needed to prepare himself properly since he wanted to venture deep into the forest this time, which was extremely dangerous. Chapter 31 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation First, Lin Han made a trip to the sect residence¡¯s martial arts hall. He was not there to visit the first floor, however. Even though he had full access to that floor, it stored only low-grade and medium-grade martial arts, which could no longer satisfy him. He wanted to enter the second floor. ¡°You¡¯re now in martial arts fourth tier, and you are the Outer Residence¡¯s Greatest Disciple, so you may enter the second floor.¡± The Half Guard Elder looked at Lin Han strangely. Obviously, he did not expect the young man whom he belittled to change so much in such a short time. He smiled as he added, ¡°Martial arts hall¡¯s second floor. Just like the last time, you have an hour, but you can pick two martial arts this time.¡± ¡°Thank you, Elder.¡± Lin Han gave him a fist salute. Subsequently, he proceeded to the second floor. Martial arts hall¡¯s second floor mainly stored medium-grade and high-grade martial arts, but of course, there were also remnants of top-grade martial arts. Since those were remnants with missing follow-up cultivation methods, they were less valuable than complete high-grade martial arts. Therefore, many Lin Clan disciples would not bother looking through them to treasure their precious time on the second floor. Once, some greedy disciples who selected a damaged top-grade martial arts ended up dying from broken meridians because they forced themselves to cultivate them. As such, as long as one was not a fool, one would avoid the damaged top-grade martial arts on the second floor. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the third floor is where the complete top-grade martial arts are stored. There might even be the legendary natural martial arts that surpass top-grade martial arts¡­¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes sparkled. If he could finish first at the Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party, he could possibly request the upper levels of his sect residence to take a look at the third floor. Hence, he became even more determined to fight for the first place at the upcoming Martial Arts Tea Party. He suddenly had the soaring determination because if he could not win a small Martial Arts Tea Party at Lin Clan Sect Residence, how was he going to break out of Broken Sky City and the Yan Kingdom? He would not be able to find the vast Ancient Land, and would not be able to take revenge on The ¡°Ice God¡±, Lan Bingyan! The ¡°Ice God¡± Lan Bingyan was not only the obsession of the First Ancient Dragon Emperor before he died, but had also become Lin Han¡¯s, who accepted his supreme legacy. Half an hour later, Lin Han had the manuals of two top-grade martial arts in his hands, which were ¡®Startled Swan Body Technique¡¯, and ¡®Raging Flames Palm Technique¡¯. The two martial arts could toughen his lower body and upper body respectively. Even if he did not use them against his enemies, they could be used side by side with the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor to transport Qi-blood and to temper his body. Lin Han picked them after careful consideration, because he needed to cultivate his soul on top of refining his body. Many people dared not think about cultivating the soul and the body at the same time, but it was Lin Han¡¯s aim. ¡°The Hall Guard Elder said that I can only choose two martial arts, but I have the Golden Spirit Fire in my head, so I can imprint another one to secretly store it in my memory.¡± Lin Han was rather excited. ¡®What should my third martial art be? ¡®I have a palm technique, body technique, defensive martial art, and sword technique. It seems like I¡¯m not lacking anything.¡¯ ¡°Although Thirteen Gleaming Swords is a high-grade martial art, I¡¯ve cultivated it to its Pinnacle state, and there¡¯s almost no more room for improvement¡­¡± Lin Han pondered for a while before his eyes twinkled. ¡®A Sword technique! ¡®I still need a sword technique of a higher level! ¡®But the second floor of martial arts hall stores only remnants of top-grade martial arts.¡¯ ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll take a look first.¡± Lin Han was unbothered. While many people died a sudden death from cultivating those martial arts, he possessed a bizarre ability to apprehend things due to the transformed Golden Spirit Fire, thus he might be an exception. Time passed in the blink of an eye, and his time was almost up. It had been almost an hour. Right then, Lin Han picked an old ancient manual. The quaint words ¡®Life Destruction Sword Technique¡¯ were written on its cover. It was an extremely rare and powerful top-grade sword technique, but it was damaged. ¡°¡®Life Destruction Sword Technique¡¯ had a total of four techniques, which are Sky-shattering Technique, Sky-splitting Technique, Sky-crossing Technique, and Sky-destroying Technique! ¡°Cultivators need a Minor Advancement comprehension to perform the first technique, Sky-shattering Technique; A Major Advancement comprehension is required to perform the second technique, Sky-splitting Technique; A Pinnacle state is needed to perform the third technique, Sky-crossing Technique; Sky-destroying Technique, which is the most powerful of all, can only be performed by comprehending Life Destruction Sword Technique to Super Pinnacle state, and it can only be achieved by a peerless genius in the sword path.¡± The sword technique that was named after ¡°life destruction¡± was extremely tyrannical in nature! It matched Lin Han¡¯s expectations. This was because he never cultivated soft techniques, and would only cultivate those that were meant for killing! Lin Han was attracted when he read the introduction. ¡°As expected, there¡¯s a Super Pinnacle state above the Pinnacle state in martial arts!¡± Subsequently, he opened ¡®Life Destruction Sword Technique¡¯ to imprint it into his mind by using Golden Spirit Fire. Nevertheless, Lin Han felt slightly bitter as the back end of the ancient manual was damaged, leaving him with only the cultivation methods of the first three techniques. The most powerful of them all, Sky-destroying Technique, was lost. Despite that, just as he was going to put the manual down, the Golden Spirit Fire shook. The cultivation method of the fourth technique began appearing in his memory, etching new content according to the first three techniques. Golden Spirit Fire was actually deriving the full technique from the damaged Life Destruction Sword Technique! ¡°Indeed, I knew that the Golden Spirit Fire¡¯s function isn¡¯t as simple as imprinting, it can also carry out self-development and derivation!¡± Lin Han was surprised. He was instantly elated. Looking at remnants of the top-grade martial arts around him, Lin Han felt a fire burning inside. ¡°I must visit the second floor when I have the chance to, and I¡¯ll take hold of all the top-grade martial arts!¡± He laughed to himself. If the upper levels of Lin Clan Sect Residence found out about his nature-defying ability, they would be so shocked that their eyes would drop out. ¡°Buzz!¡± At one point, Lin Han felt that his mind became weak. He immediately realized that his spiritual power was consumed for the Golden Spirit Fire to derive the follow-up cultivation method. Fortunately, he was on a path to become a Spirit Master. If his soul grew stronger, the nature-defying ability of the Golden Spirit Fire would be enhanced without a limit. By using his inner sight, Lin Han realized that his spiritual power was insufficient even though he had only derived half of the fourth technique, Sky-destroying Technique. ¡°An hour is almost up, I should leave first. Once my soul recovers, I¡¯ll continue deriving it.¡± Following that, Lin Han walked toward the martial arts hall¡¯s exit. He gained a lot from his trip to the hall. As long as he continued to consume his spiritual power to fully derive Sky-destroying Technique, it would be the same as acquiring the complete top-grade martial art, Life Destruction Sword Technique, which would compensate for the shortcoming of his current sword technique. ¡­ Afterward, Lin Han left Lin Clan Sect Residence. He bought a new longsword with 500 taels of gold, which was a medium-grade weapon. Half an hour later, outside Broken Sky City. This time, he bought a sturdy horse for his journey. ¡°Ya!¡± He went on the horse. Lin Han was dressed in a green robe, and he carried a longsword. With bright eyes, he whipped the horsewhip, then laughed in high spirits as the horse galloped away. ¡°How youthful!¡± Some people around him exclaimed when they saw him riding a horse. At that moment, two strange figures in black robes appeared at the city¡¯s entrance. One of them with a knife scar on his face looked at Lin Han¡¯s distant figure coldly, then said to the other man, ¡°Quick, let Master know that Lin Han the Outer Residence disciple has left to Broken Sky Forest.¡± ¡­ In less than half a day¡¯s time, Lin Han arrived at Broken Sky Forest. Without any hesitation, he went deep into the dangerous ancient forest alone. Three hours later. ¡°Puff!¡± After killing a Devil Flame Saber-toothed Tiger with one slash from his sword, Lin Han frowned. His purpose was to find precious Heaven and Earth Spiritual Medicines to assist his advancement, but apart from killing a few ferocious beasts, he had not found anything. As such, his heart slowly sank. However, in the three hours, Lin Han comprehended Raging Flames Palm Technique, Startled Swan Body Technique, and Life Destruction Sword Technique to Minor Advancement states, and was able to perform the Sky-shattering Technique. If he were to use it side by side with Quick Draw Sword, the thunderous attack could shatter the Earth. The might of its first sword technique would be terrifying! After being in deep thoughts for a moment, Lin Han was going to go deeper into the forest. It was then when a few figures suddenly emerged. There were a total of three. They were three tall, cold-looking big men who towered around Lin Han, leaving him with no ways of retreat. ¡°Who are you?¡± Lin Han quickly asked. Through the Spirit Master Heavenly Eye, he noticed that the men had vigorous True Elements, and had cultivation bases of the peak of martial arts fifth tier. ¡°Fella, clam it with the questions, just follow us.¡± The three men sneered. Hua la! They retrieved big iron chains, and were going to capture Lin Han by force. Upon seeing this, Lin Han was about to kill all of them. ¡°Quick, Young Master Sky Evil¡¯s ¡®Sky-devouring Poison Flower¡¯ is going to mature, it needs a lot of bloody food!¡± A worried voice was heard coming from afar. ¡°Wait, we just captured a fella in fourth tier martial art, he¡¯ll be perfect for it,¡± One of the big men shouted. ¡®Sky-devouring Poison Flower?¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s eyes glowed. He suddenly responded, ¡°I¡¯ll follow you, lead the way!¡± The three big men were surprised. ¡°How brave!¡± ¡°Fella, I¡¯m warning you, you better not play any tricks.¡± Later, the big men kept their iron chains, then led the way. Lin Han followed them to somewhere far away. Chapter 32 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation In less than half an hour, Lin Han and the three big men arrived at the mountainside. Lin Han immediately noticed a huge hole on the ground, which was filled with extremely sticky blood. A blood pool deep inside the forest! Countless broken limbs could be seen inside it. ¡°No! No¡­¡± On one far end, big men with cold expressions were seen throwing Warriors with low cultivation bases into the pool. Those who were captured here like Lin Han was, shrieked miserably before they were devoured by the blood pool, and turned into thick blood. A gigantic blood-colored spiritual flower that was over twenty meters tall sat in the center of the pool. It had an extremely hideous mouth on it, which was full of protruding teeth, and was roaring at the sky. The scene was exceptionally bloody and fearsome. Lin Han¡¯s expression immediately turned cold. He initially thought that ¡°Sky-devouring Poison Flower¡± was a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Medicine, which was why he decided to take a look. It turned out that Sky-devouring Poison Flower was an ¡°evil flower¡± that was built using the blood of countless human Warriors. Right then, Lin Han noticed a wicked young man standing beside the blood pool, who was staring at the evil flower fervently. The man was ignorant toward the Warriors who were being pushed down. ¡®That¡¯s probably Young Master Sky Evil!¡¯ By secretly performing Spirit Master Heavenly Eye, Lin Han found that Young Master Sky Evil was at the peak of fifth tier martial art. Nonetheless, his True Element was very gloomy and cold as if he cultivated a vicious technique that allowed him to instill fear into one¡¯s mind. At that moment, the Golden Azure Dragon roared in Lin Han¡¯s mind, which instantly dispelled the coldness. ¡°Mm?!¡± All of a sudden, Young Master Sky Evil who noticed something shot a fierce look at him. ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Young Master, he¡¯s a meal that we captured earlier, and is in martial arts fourth tier,¡± One of his men replied with a fist salute. ¡°He must be a Genius Disciple from a big family since he¡¯s martial arts fourth tier at such a young age, but my favorite thing to do is killing geniuses.¡± Young Master Sky Evil laughed coldly, then ordered, ¡°Push him into the blood pool. My baby¡¯s about to mature, hahaha!¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master!¡± The big man responded respectfully. Subsequently, a hideously big man beside Lin Han turned to say to him, ¡°Fella, roll down yourself if you¡¯re sensible, or I¡¯ll break your¡­¡± In a flash. Clang! A ray of cold sword-light pierced through the sky. ¡°Puff!¡± Next, the voice of the big man who spoke was brought to a halt. His pupils enlarged, then his beheaded body fell down. ¡°What?!¡± The crowd was frightened. Before they caught what happened, Lin Han had already put his sword back into its scabbard and was staring back at the group. ¡°That was quick!¡± Young Master Sky Evil suddenly smiled wickedly, then yelled, ¡°Grab that b*stard, don¡¯t let him escape! I want to torture him and show everyone what it¡¯s like to oppose me!¡± However, before his followers made a move, a voice was heard. ¡°I won¡¯t escape because you¡¯re all going to die!¡± A stern voice that was full of fearful killing intent echoed in the mountainside. When Lin Han looked at the floating corpses in the blood pool, he noticed that there were actually innocent children as well, but only parts of their bodies were floating. He was enraged and determined to kill. The group of men including Young Master Sky Evil deserved to die! ¡°Foolish lad, how reckless of you to want to kill all of us!¡± Afterward, a fierce big man charged at Lin Han with a cruel smile on his face. ¡°Great Collapse Hand!¡± The big man had a cultivation base of martial art¡¯s fifth tier and was releasing his True Element at that moment. His palm expanded a few times into the size of a heavy millstone that was about to smash Lin Han into meat paste. ¡°Raging Flames Palm Technique! ¡°I¡¯ll destroy you with one palm!¡± As Lin Han roared, his Dragon Power True Element exploded. Boom! In that instant, endless raging flames gushed out of Lin Han¡¯s palm, forming a huge handprint with flames that clashed into the big man¡¯s hand. ¡°Ah!¡± Following that, the big man wailed as his body was sent flying over fifty meters away by the burning handprint. On top of that, his body burned with flames. His mournful screams were to no avail. Finally, he was burned to death while everyone else watched. ¡°Tss!¡± Upon seeing this, the others turned to gasp at Lin Han, and they felt chills down their spine. ¡®What a powerful martial art!¡¯ ¡®What ruthless willpower!¡¯ ¡°I told you, you¡¯re all going to die!¡± Though Lin Han¡¯s face was expressionless, his eyes were full of killing intent. He carried a magnanimous aura as if he was an emperor who ruled the world, causing the others to be frightened. ¡°Why are you afraid? He¡¯s just a fella in martial arts fourth tier. Go get him!¡± Young Master Sky Evil¡¯s face took on a ghastly expression as he shouted at the others. On the other hand, the despairing eyes of the Warriors beside the blood pool were shining with hope again. ¡®Who exactly is that green-robed young man?¡¯ ¡®His combat power is terrifying!¡¯ ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Charge him! I don¡¯t believe that he can fight a hundred of us by himself!¡± With that, numerous Warriors in martial arts fourth and fifth tier attacked Lin Han ferociously. ¡°Raging Flames Palm Technique! ¡°Thirteen Gleaming Swords! ¡°Startled Swan Body Technique!¡± The crowd was startled when Lin Han zoomed across them like a ghost. The men could not touch the green-robed young man at all. ¡°Puff!¡± ¡°Puff!¡± ¡°Puff!¡± During that moment, cold sword-lights appeared whenever Lin Han swung his sword to kill the nearest Warrior to him. He was fierce and merciless! Every attack was brutal, and the men were killed one after another. This shocked the Warriors beside the blood pool. ¡°What powerful strength!¡± ¡°He¡¯s really taking out a hundred people on his own!¡± ¡°Those are powerhouses in fourth or fifth tier martial art, how can they be wiped out by the green-robed young man?!¡± The Warriors who were captured were aware of how scary the big men were, so they were stunned when they watched the green-robed young man who was like an undefeated war god. ¡°Puff!¡± At last, Lin Han chopped the head of the last big man, whose body collapsed to the ground. The last thing that Lin Han was afraid of was a war of attrition, because the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor was constantly absorbing the world¡¯s spiritual energy around him to replenish his True Element. His black hair fluttered in the air like a waterfall, and he stood tall like a spear that pierced into the vault of Heaven. In his blood-covered green robe after the attacks, he walked on the bones of the dead as if he was Asura1. With sharp eyes, he then glared at Young Master Sky Evil who was a distance away, then sneered. ¡°Young Master Sky Evil? Why don¡¯t you continue ordering your subordinates to kill me?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Young Master Sky Evil froze with an ashen face when he looked at the piled-up corpses around Ling Han. Despite that, he soon laughed out loud, then commented, ¡°You¡¯re good! Since you¡¯re so powerful, you must have compacted the True Element inside your body! As long as I kill you and let ¡®Sky-devouring Poison Flower¡¯ devour your corpse, it¡¯ll definitely mature. I¡¯ll consume the flower to advance to sixth tier martial art, or even make it to the legendary Grandmaster Boundary!¡± Young Master Sky Evil laughed cruelly as he shot a bloody look at Lin Han. He was determined to kill. Chapter 33 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Die!¡± Young Master Tianxie¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. His ring suddenly shone, then a bow made of ice crystal instantly appeared. ¡°A Storage Spirit Ring!¡± Lin Han was surprised. He could tell that Young Master Tianxie¡¯s ring was clearly an interspatial ring, because he read about them in ancient books. ¡®I can¡¯t believe that he actually has one, it¡¯s a priceless treasure.¡¯ Nonetheless, the thing that actually posed a threat to Lin Han was the shining blue light on Young Master Tianxie¡¯s ice crystal bow. He read that some weapons that underwent special refining methods were incorporated with Heaven and Earth¡¯s essence, which allowed them to release supernatural powers. Those weapons were known as ¡°spirit weapons¡±. ¡®A cold blue light can be vaguely seen shining on Young Master Tianxie¡¯s ice crystal bow, could it be?¡¯ ¡°A spirit weapon?¡± Lin Han uttered. ¡°Someone from this distant place actually knows about spirit weapons? Unbelievable. You¡¯re quite knowledgeable, laddy!¡± Young Master Tianxie found it strange, but he quickly laughed wickedly. ¡°A real spirit weapon can¡¯t even be activated by Martial Grandmasters. This is only a damaged one, but it¡¯s more than enough to kill you! ¡°Ha!¡± He yelled all of a sudden, then his True Elements gushed into his ice crystal bow crazily. Buzz! An arrow that was dazzling in blue brilliance that could be seen by the naked eye instantly appeared on the bowstring, and was aimed at Lin Han who was not too far away. ¡®An ice crystal arrow produced from thin air?¡¯ The unbelievable scene shocked the other Warriors. It was also then when Lin Han realized that he was in grave danger. ¡°Die!¡± Xiu! Young Master Tianxie laughed cruelly as he released the bowstring, then the ice crystal arrow pierced through the air, and shot toward Lin Han like an explosive shooting star. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± Clang! When Lin Han wielded his sword, sword energy hit the ice crystal arrow that was coming at him. ¡°Boom!¡± However, a burst of enormous energy blew up at where they clashed. Lin Han¡¯s face changed slightly as his body was forced over ten meters back. Additionally, his longsword was covered in a layer of ice, and a string of cold energy entered his body. ¡°Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor!¡± the annoyed Lin Han yelled. The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor immediately burst out, causing vigorous Dragon Power True Element and Qi-blood in his body to counteract the cold energy. ¡°What powerful might!¡± Lin Han who was shocked became more serious. ¡°Eh? You actually withstood my arrow? But let¡¯s see how many more you can take!¡± Young Master Tianxie smirked, then took a deep breath as he repeatedly pulled the bowstring, creating a few ice crystal arrows in blue light that shot out. ¡°Xiu, xiu, xiu!¡± There were a total of three arrows, each one bigger, colder, and sharper than the first one. The might of the three arrows were extremely enormous, but of course, it was at the expense of all of Young Master Tianxie¡¯s True Elements. His face turned pale after shooting the arrows, but his eyes were fiercer than before as he stared at Lin Han. ¡°Sh*t! Three arrows!¡± The moment Lin Han awoke from the shock, his fearsome perception captured the track of the first arrow. ¡°Startled Swan Body Technique!¡± Lin Han shouted, then shifted away to dodge the first arrow by a narrow margin. ¡°Boom!¡± The first ice crystal arrow hit an ancient tree behind him, which instantly turned into an ice sculpture, such that its vitality was frozen. ¡°Tss!¡± Those who watched were very frightened. Many of the Warriors prayed that Lin Han could win. ¡°Xiu!¡± Soon enough, the second ice crystal arrow arrived with uncontrollable cold energy that could freeze everything. ¡°Quick Draw Sword! ¡°Life Destruction Sword Technique ¡ª Sky-shattering Technique!¡± Unable to perform his body technique in time, Lin Han pulled his sword out. He then merged Quick Draw Sword and the first technique of Life Destruction Sword Technique perfectly, which produced tremendously strong power. Dang! A violent explosion filled the air as he slashed the second ice crystal arrow, but his longsword could not withstand the burden and cracked. Only half of its sword was left! Lin Han was upset. ¡®I just bought this new medium-grade weapon!¡¯ Nevertheless, when he thought about the fact that Young Master Tianxie¡¯s bow was a damaged spirit weapon, he was relieved. ¡°You managed to dodge two of my arrows, let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to dodge the third!¡± Young Master Tianxie laughed hideously. Following that, a whistle was heard from the released arrow. The third ice crystal arrow zoomed toward Lin Han as if it was going to stop only when it killed him. ¡°Golden Sun Cover!¡± At that moment of life or death, Lin Han activated all of his Dragon Power True Element and stimulated Dragon Emperor Combat Body to double up his combat power. He decided to use Golden Sun Cover as his defensive martial art. Kuang! A giant golden bell that was antique and heavy instantly covered him. It was also then when the third ice crystal arrow shot the bell, leaving a coat of ice on it. The coat of ice covered the giant golden bell and turned it to ice. Lin Han was also stuck inside by the thick ice. Upon seeing this, the Warriors became dispirited. ¡®Did the green-robed young man get killed by Young Master Tianxie?¡¯ ¡°Hahaha! Fella, you¡¯re still too inexperienced, my methods are unimaginable! Your vitality is instantly frozen once you¡¯re sealed by the ice from my arrow. Enjoy your new life as a snowman!¡± Young Master Tianxie laughed out loud. He leaped to the giant ice bell, and was about to break the sculpture. ¡°Puff!¡± Right then, a broken sword emerged from the ice to kill him. ¡°How¡­¡± Young Master Tianxie widened his eyes as he was not resigned to the outcome, but his body quickly collapsed to the ground. Subsequently, the giant golden bell that was covered in ice vibrated, causing the ice to shatter. Tag, tag! Lin Han walked out with a floating majestic sun behind him. Golden Sun Cover, Golden Sun Rises! The defensive martial art had a magical defensive effect against attacks from winter ice attributes. When Lin Han used it side by side with his Dragon Emperor Combat Body, he managed to block the strong power of the third ice crystal arrow. With a stronger body and richer Qi-blood, he did not become frozen at all. He was only hiding inside the ice sculpture to ambush Young Master Tianxie. That being said, Lin Han was also in disbelief. ¡®I killed him just like that?¡¯ In actual fact, it was reasonable. This was because Young Master Tianxie was depleted of True Elemen after shooting the three ice crystal arrows. Moreover, the young master did not expect Lin Han to have a Dragon Emperor Combat Body that toughened his body and richened his Qi-blood, which was unusual for a Warrior in fourth tier martial arts. ¡°Good Samaritan, you didn¡¯t die!¡± ¡°Good Samaritan, did you kill Young Master Tianxie?!¡± The countless people who witnessed the scene turned from being hopeless to being excited again. They ran toward Lin Han, then kneeled in front of him. ¡°Thank you for your saving grace, Good Samaritan!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so polite. Young Master Tianxie was a cruel and evil man who killed the old, the weak, and the young. The gods are angry, and the people are resentful, so it¡¯s only right that I kill him.¡± Lin Han smiled and helped the people up. These people were from a nearby village where Warriors were rare, thus they were taken by force to be blood meals. ¡°I¡¯ll leave that evil flower to you, and you must burn it with fire as soon as possible, or another evil person will come to harm the living.¡± Lin Han warned the people, then retrieved Young Master¡¯s spirit ring and ice crystal bow before he strode away. ¡°Thank you, Good Samaritan!¡± ¡°Thank you, Good Samaritan!¡± The people expressed their gratitude as he left. ¡­ ¡°I made a fortune!¡± On his way back, Lin Han did according to what was recorded in ancient books and dripped his blood to cleanse the spirit ring. When he looked inside the spirit ring with his mind, he noticed an enormous interspatial dimension. A wooden box and a wooden board were stored inside. By thinking with his mind, the items instantly appeared in his hands. He was elated. ¡®They¡¯re mine now!¡¯ ¡°Tianxie Hall.¡± Three quaint words were carved on the wooden board. ¡®Tianxie Hall?¡¯ Lin Han was confused because he never heard of it. After thinking for some time, he placed the wooden board back into the spirit ring, then opened the wooden box. ¡°Crack.¡± The instant Lin Han looked into the box, his eyes glowed. Chapter 34 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation A jade-colored medicinal pill was stored in the wooden box. Its fragrance was intoxicating. ¡®This is definitely a precious spiritual pill!¡¯ Lin Han was elated. His initial purpose of entering Broken Sky Forest was to search for Heaven and Earth Spiritual Medicines, so that he could break through the shackle that was preventing him from advancing his cultivation base. However, spiritual medicines were hard to find. Nonetheless, he acquired a spiritual pill from Young Master Sky Evil, which could help him in that respect. ¡°Gulp!¡± Without any hesitation, he consumed the spiritual pill, then sat with his legs crossed on the ground, and began cultivating. ¡°Boom!¡± As Lin Han operated Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, an illusory smelting furnace appeared in his Dantian again to absorb the pill¡¯s medicine efficacy completely. It blended into his bones, blood, and flesh, such that none was wasted. Lin Han was satisfied with the strong absorption power of the pill. It was worth noting that ordinary Warriors who consumed spiritual pills for advancement purposes could only utilize fifty to sixty percent of the pill¡¯s drug efficacy, but he managed to absorb ninety-nine percent of it. Half an hour later. ¡°Boom!¡± The abundant Qi-blood in his body gave out a thunderous sound. Lin Han stood up all of a sudden, releasing a threatening aura from his body. He finally advanced to martial arts fifth tier through the spiritual pill¡¯s efficacy. With the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, his Dragon Power True Element, and his exceptional sword technique, Lin Han was confident of defeating all opponents who were in the same fifth-tier stage as him. Despite that, when he thought about Lin Duanjian¡¯s odd yet frightening sword path, he held back his excitement a little. He knew that he needed to strengthen himself more before the Martial Arts Tea Party to face all sorts of events. ¡°No matter what, I must finish as the top three in the Martial Arts Tea Party. As for first place, I¡¯ll see how things go. After all, my cultivation period is much shorter than the others.¡± Lin Han did not reach for what was beyond his grasp. He set a straightforward aim for himself, then continued cultivating in the forest. Two days later. Clang! Accompanied by an explosive sound, a cold sword-light split an old tree of over ten meters tall into half. Boom! The old tree collapsed, and bits of wood flew in the air. In front of it, Lin Han, who wore a green robe, was seen holding a broken sword. He expressed, ¡°Life Destruction Sword Technique truly deserves to be a top-grade martial art.¡± After two days, he only comprehended part of the second technique, Sky-splitting Technique. Nevertheless, it was more powerful than Quick Draw Sword and Sky-shattering Technique combined. Furthermore, Lin Han also apprehended Raging Flames Palm Technique and Startled Swan Body Technique to Major Advancement state. During that period, he tested the ice crystal bow that he acquired from Young Master Sky Evil. Its power totally shocked him. He consumed nearly half of his Dragon Power True Element to shoot one arrow, but its power was sufficient to freeze a ferocious beast in sixth tier martial art, by which the beast¡¯s vitality was instantly destroyed. The weapon was extremely fearsome! That being said, the sense of weakness that came after shooting an arrow made Lin Han realize that the damaged spirit weapon could only be used as a last resort. If not, shooting an arrow with it would instantly make him vulnerable. Apart from that, Lin Han who obtained a spirit ring with a huge storage space had been killing numerous ferocious beasts for two days, because the items gained from those beasts could be stored in the ring space. Once he left the forest, he could definitely earn a lot of gold from selling the items. Thump! A Storm Leopard suddenly jumped out from the forest, but it ran away the moment it sensed Lin Han¡¯s threatening aura. ¡°Where are you going!¡± Lin Han laughed, then chased after it. Since a Storm Leopard carried a demonic core in its body that could be sold for a good price, he was not going to let it go. As Lin Han followed, he soon realized that he was being led to a remote area. He halted because his instincts told him that something was off. Right then, a ¡°xiu¡± was heard. From the dense trees far away, an arrow was shot in his direction. ¡°Clang!¡± Lin Han immediately pulled his sword out. Although his sword was broken, it cut the arrow accurately. ¡°What a fast attack! Not bad, if you continue to grow, you might shine in Broken Sky City, but¡­ B*stard, you¡¯re destined to die today!¡± Without warning, a voice that was full of killing intent was heard. ¡°Who¡¯s there? You¡¯re sneaky!¡± Lin Han roared. ¡®No wonder this seems so off, looks like the Storm Leopard was ordered to lure me here.¡¯ When he used his profound perception, he quickly noticed a slight movement. He turned to look toward an old tree. On one of the big branches, two middle-aged men dressed in Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s clothes were staring at him coldly. ¡°Lin Badao, Lin Wuya!¡± Lin Han was surprised. Lin Badao was Lin Juedao¡¯s father. Lin Wuya was Lin Shi and Lin Lang¡¯s father. The two of them were important figures in Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s upper level, and their cultivation bases were both in sixth tier martial art! ¡®Are they joining hands to kill me in Broken Sky Forest?! ¡®How ruthless! ¡®What a thoroughgoing scheme!¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡®Looks like they were informed the day I left Broken Sky City.¡¯ ¡°Little b*stard, we finally found you!¡± Lin Badao was the first to jump down from the branch. With burning eyes, he said, ¡°You crippled my son, Lin Juedao, of his arms, making him a worthless person. Today, I¡¯ll chop your arms, and smash them inch by inch!¡± He bore a cold aura, and was furious when he spoke. Tag! Lin Wuya sneered, and also jumped down to block Lin Han¡¯s way of retreat. In a flash, Lin Han was in a dangerous spot. ¡°Brother Wuya, attack!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Without any time to think, Lin Han was suddenly attacked by two powerhouses in sixth tier martial art, who were determined to kill him. Lin Badao held a long knife, which released a powerful knife-Qi that cut the grass around him into pieces. On the other hand, Lin Wuya¡¯s palms were burning in blazing flames. It turned out that he also cultivated Raging Flames Palm Technique. However, over the course of ten years, he had already comprehended the high-grade martial art to Pinnacle state, whereby the flames were capable of burning everything. A great crisis befell Lin Han! In spite of that, he did not panic as his strong mentality allowed him to calm down right away. Faced with the horrifying knife-Qi and palms that produced raging flames, he instantly expanded his perception range. With that, any slightest movement around him, including the attacks and paths taken by Lin Badao and Lin Wuya, were captured by him like a thread of thought. ¡°Here!¡± At that crucial moment, Lin Han¡¯s eyes emitted a golden light. He spotted a weak spot in Lin Badao and Lin Wuya¡¯s attack! ¡°Sky-splitting Technique!¡± Lin Han pulled his sword out. A sword-light pierced through the air, which cut Lin Badao¡¯s finger. Subsequently, Lin Han¡¯s body became like a sharp arrow. He quickly performed Startled Swan Body Technique to move deep into the forest. ¡°Quick, chase him!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let him escape, or our efforts will be wasted!¡± Lin Badao and Lin Wuya looked at each other, then they immediately chased after Lin Han. Chapter 35 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Step, step, step! Lin Han operated his Dragon Power True Element to the maximum, and elevated Startled Swan Body Technique to its peak, which allowed him to move extremely fast. ¡°If I didn¡¯t advance to fifth tier martial art by taking the spiritual pill, and also comprehended the second technique of Life Destruction Sword Technique, Sky-splitting Technique, I¡¯m afraid that I would¡¯ve been killed by the old men just now!¡± While he escaped as fast as he could, he tried to come up with a plan. ¡®I can fight it out if there¡¯s only one of them, but since there are two of them, it¡¯s impossible for me to kill them head-on. ¡®The spirit weapon, ice crystal bow, is powerful enough to kill a powerhouse in sixth tier martial art, but I¡¯ll be left with no energy to resist anything after. ¡®I¡¯ll be killed by the other man.¡¯ Although he remained a calm look, his brows were slightly furrowed. ¡°Lin Han, you little b*stard, you can¡¯t escape! Your attempts to resist are pointless.¡± ¡°Broken Sky Forest will be your burial place.¡± Behind Lin Han, the indifferent voices of Lin Badao and Lin Wuya were heard. In actual fact, it was a capital offense for them to hunt and kill Lin Han without the knowledge of the true senior level elders from Lin Class Sect Residence. If Lin Han managed to escape to report them to the sect residence, they would face a tragic end. Therefore, they were determined to kill him. Nonetheless, they were shocked that Lin Han was able to chop one of Lin Badao¡¯s fingers earlier. He actually broke through the deadly situation! It was unbelievable. Thus, they had a stronger urge to kill him. However, Lin Badao and Lin Wuya were even more dumbfounded by the fact that they could not catch up to Lin Han after half an hour. It was notable that those in sixth tier martial art had at least twice the True Element of those in fifth tier martial art. Besides, Lin Han had just advanced to fifth tier martial art. Hence, the two men felt uneasy. ¡°Boom, boom!¡± Without further ado, they roared as they exerted their True Elements fully. They were determined to catch up to Lin Han to kill him. ¡°Oh no, they¡¯re going all out!¡± Lin Han who was ahead was concerned when he sensed the threatening aura behind him. ¡°There¡¯s only one way to do this, I¡¯ll have to go deeper into the forest, I don¡¯t think that the powerful ferocious beasts will sense my aura first since I¡¯m only in fifth tier martial art.¡± Lin Han quickly made a decision. He turned and went straight into the deeper parts of Broken Sky Forest. There were more towering trees around him, and the roars of ferocious beasts were more crowded together. ¡°Oh no, that fella¡¯s leading us to the deeper parts of Broken Sky Forest.¡± Lin Badao was anxious. ¡°We must kill him, or we¡¯ll be given death penalty if Residence Master finds out that we attempted to kill Lin Han, the Outer Residence Greatest Genius!¡± Lin Wuya responded confidently, ¡°Brother Badao, you mustn¡¯t hesitate. I¡¯m sure that we can kill a fella who has just advanced to fifth tier martial art since we¡¯re masters in sixth tier martial art.¡± Knowing the seriousness of this matter, Lin Badao nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Tag, tag! Two figures entered the forest with strong killing intent like eagles that were spreading their wings. ¡°Roar!¡± When a Raging Flame Lion suddenly leaped out, Lin Han dodged it wonderfully with the help of his perception. On the opposite, Lin Badao and Lin Wuya who did not have the same perception were quickly attacked by the Raging Flame Lion. ¡°Cunning little b*stard!¡± Upon seeing the enraged Raging Flame Lion, they froze and cursed Lin Han. ¡°Brother Wuya, go after that fella, I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± As Lin Badao whistled, he wielded his long knife and charged at the lion. ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Quya nodded, then continued chasing Lin Han. As soon as he left, a thunderous roar and the explosive sound of a twinge knife-Qi were heard. ¡°Lin Han, I¡¯ll surely chop you into pieces!¡± Lin Wuya was no longer calm. His hideous look was revealed as he could not wait to peel off Lin Han¡¯s skin. Nevertheless, Lin Han traveled through the deep forest with ease due to his strong perception as a result of the Golden Spirit Fire¡¯s transformation, and his ability to get rid of delusions through the Spirit Master Heavenly Eye. He was always able to ¡°foresee¡± situations, which really shocked Lin Wuya who was chasing behind. For three whole hours, Lin Wuya had been following Lin Han, and was always faced with awkward positions due to the attacks from ferocious beasts. On the contrary, Lin Han always managed to dodge the beasts. ¡°Little b*stard, what exactly is this evil trick that you¡¯re using!¡± Lin Wuya shouted furiously. Lin Han was delighted. That being said, he was also surprised because a Warrior in sixth tier martial art was truly fearsome. In the three hours, there were a total of over ten ferocious beasts, and the strongest of them all was even at the peak of fifth tier martial art, yet Lin Wuya killed each of them with a hit from his palm. The Raging Flames Palm Technique that he performed was exceptionally powerful. Every time he attacked, a burning handprint the size of a millstone appeared, which burned the beast into its flesh and bones. Finally, Lin Han who examined Lin Wuya¡¯s soul through Spirit Master Heavenly Eye noticed that Lin Wuya had exhausted his True Element. Peng! Lin Han stopped abruptly, then stood near him. ¡°What? You¡¯re finally out of breath? Hahaha!¡± Lin Wuya shot a look at Lin Han who suddenly stopped. However, Lin Han curled his lips. His body was abundant with Dragon Power True Element, and the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor was constantly absorbing and devouring energy from the air around him. Even though the devouring speed would only double if he activated his Dragon Emperor Combat Body, it was more than enough to replenish the True Elements consumed for his body technique. Despite that, Lin Han needed to put on an act to seize a moment for a definite kill. With a ¡°pale¡± face and a trembling body, he pretended as if he was resigned to the outcome. He seemed hopeless. Before he turned around, he also put some spiritual pill powder on the corner of his mouth on purpose¡­ ¡°Indeed, you¡¯ve been replenishing your True Element with medicinal pills!¡± From a distance away, Lin Wuya laughed out loud when he noticed Lin Han¡¯s ¡°hopeless expression¡± and the white spiritual pill powder at the corner of his mouth. There was not even a moment of doubt. After all, even his True Element was almost fully worn out from flying for three hours. Just as he was laughing uncontrollably, Lin Han¡¯s eyes glowed. ¡°Now!¡± A light was also emitted from his hands as an ice crystal bow appeared. ¡°Buzz!¡± Following that, Lin Han arched his body like a coiled dragon, then pulled the bowstring with his arm. Boom! His Dragon Power True Element gushed out, then an ice crystal arrow appeared on the bow that shone in blue light. The arrow pierced through the air to hit Lin Wuya¡¯s chest. By then, Lin Wuya who had exhausted his True Element had let his guard down. Given the circumstances, he could not perform his martial art in time, and could not even shriek in pain when he was frozen by the arrow. Consequently, he became a human sculpture that lost all manner of vitality. ¡°Crack! Crack¡­¡± When a light breeze blew past, the ice sculpture broke into pieces of frozen flesh. ¡°Phew!¡± Upon seeing this, Lin Han sighed a breath of relief. He could feel that he was almost depleted of his True Element. At that moment, a voice was heard. ¡°Fella, you¡¯re indeed extraordinary, I didn¡¯t expect you to have a weapon like that! But your treasure is going to be mine soon, hahaha!¡± Lin Han¡¯s face changed. He turned to look behind him. Lin Badan whose clothes were torn stood there with messy hair, but eyes that burned with fire. ¡®Lin Badao actually caught up without me knowing?¡¯ When Lin Han sensed his weak True Element, his eyes turned dull. Chapter 36 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°No matter what you do, you¡¯re still going to fall into my hands!¡¯ At this moment, the corners of Lin Badao¡¯s lips suddenly turned into a sinister smile and Lin Han¡¯s face fell in response. Clang! He swiftly raised the long knife in his hand and a violent surge of True Element in his body followed. All of a sudden, an intense ray of sword light surrounded the blade, revealing its owner¡¯s ability. It was as if everything had shattered in an instant! A terrifying murderous intent directed at Lin Han suddenly surged out from Lin Badao¡¯s entire body. However, just when Lin Badao was about to strike at his opponent, they were interrupted by a deafening noise. Boom! The ground vibrated from deep within the forest and shook the earth, as if an incensed dragon had just roared. ¡°What on earth was that?!¡± Lin Badao turned pale with fright. He looked past Lin Han and his gaze was met with a pair of massive eyes the size of copper bells. It was as if two lanterns burning in blood-colored flames were staring at him from out of the dense forest. Roar! The deafening roar was enough to have one¡¯s hair stand on end. It was as if a wild beast had broken free from the shackles of the mountains, shattering the ground and crashing the rivers. That roar frightened the life out of people. What was that? Lin Han turned around to check and his eyes were startled with surprise. A behemoth. The ancient giant crocodile roared at the sky. Thick, black scales covered its body completely, as if it had been drenched in molten iron. The vigorous body of that beast towered above everything like a mountain. Under the lights of the sun, it appeared cold, heavy, and strong. At a slow pace, the beast stepped out from the depths of the mountains. The ground shook violently with each of its steps. At this moment, the two lantern-like, blood-colored eyes of this ancient crocodile were burning like flames as they stared at Lin Han and Lin Badao, making both of them tremble with fear. This was definitely the king of all the ferocious beasts in Broken Sky Forest! Even a Martial Grandmaster would struggle under the nose of this beast. ¡°Run!¡± Right now, Lin Badao only had fear in his heart. The True Element in his body erupted like an explosion. His physical body turned to something almost like a ray of sword-light. Accompanied by a loud rumble, he chopped down numerous ancient trees and his figure disappeared in the forest in the blink of an eye. Lin Han only smiled bitterly at the sight of this. He had just sent trouble away but was immediately met with another larger problem. Boom! The ancient crocodile snarled at the sky, revealing its sharp, densely-packed teeth. The sight of this sent shivers down Lin Han¡¯s spine. Perhaps, the flesh of the ¡°tiny¡± Lin Han would not be enough to fill the gaps between the teeth of this ancient crocodile. ¡°Buzz.¡± A pair of eyes filled with infinite murderous intent landed its gaze on Lin Han. The latter¡¯s expression changed suddenly. Oh no! The ancient crocodile was going to kill him! ¡°Ancient Dragon Emperor, conspicuous willpower!¡± All of a sudden, Lin Han¡¯s eyes twinkled with a flash of golden brilliance. The spiritual power in him erupted in an instance. Anggggg! A Golden Azure Dragon in spirit form burst out from Lin Han, who was in a thundering rage. The dragon¡¯s majesty soared to the sky and its domineering, emperor-like willpower filled the air. Deng deng deng! What happened next caught Lin Han in a thrill of exultation. From the depth of its spirit, that ancient crocodile was utterly terrified by the Golden Azure Dragon. The beast¡¯s humongous body went back a few steps involuntarily. Perfect timing! ¡°Run!¡± After putting the ice crystal sword into the Spirit Ring, Lin Han exhausted every ounce of strength left in his body and sprinted away frantically towards the opposite direction. 1 He was only a Level One Spirit Master, hence his spirit was still weak and fragile. The Golden Azure Dragon did not possess any potential for attack. Lin Han only utilized it to intimidate the ferocious ancient crocodile. Unexpectedly, his tactic turned out to be a success. Naturally, Lin Han would not let this chance of survival to slide away. In an instant, he employed the Dragon Emperor Combat Body to double the speed at which he engulfed the energy from his surroundings. Essence and Qi from the surrounding environment were quickly absorbed by Lin Han to ensure the speedy recovery of his True Element. ¡°Roar!¡± However, right at this moment, that ancient crocodile behind him suddenly let out an exasperated roar. Dong dong dong! That gigantic being suddenly dashed in Lin Han¡¯s direction. ¡°Oh no! It saw through my trick!¡± Lin Han shuddered while continuing to flee as fast as he could. What surprised Lin Han was that while he was trying to escape from death, he had unknowingly progressed his Startled Swan Body Technique into the Pinnacle state. He became even faster. However, that ancient crocodile was also extremely speedy. After all, that beast the size of a small mountain was able to take one step about fifty or sixty meters, which was terribly shocking. The game of life and death had been going on for an hour. After the eruption of Dragon Emperor Combat Body, even the doubled-up engulfing speed could not keep up with Lin Han¡¯s consumption rate. His True Element was depleting! What should he do? At this critical moment, Lin Han expanded his perception and his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye quickly surveyed the surrounding terrain. Right now, even Lin Han had no clue where he was. ¡°The canyon!¡± All of a sudden, Lin Han¡¯s eyes sparkled. His Spirit Master Heavenly Eye searched through the dense forest and discovered a great canyon. Boom. Without further consideration, the moment Lin Han¡¯s feet landed on the ground he leaped straight into the great canyon. Lin Han stared at the ground without thinking, jumping straight into the canyon. At this moment, he used the Startled Swan Body Technique. With the help of the wind, Lin Han was able to move swiftly across the air before finally landing safely on the ground. ¡°Roar!¡± A wild and coarse bellow came from above the canyon. A monstrous creature suddenly jumped down with him. That ancient crocodile was still stubbornly chasing after him. It would not cease until it finally swallowed Lin Han into its stomach. Looking at that ancient crocodile jumping off swiftly like a collapsing small mountain, the corners of Lin Han¡¯s mouth twitched uncontrollably. ¡°F*ck!¡± He cursed under his breath before running off frantically again in the opposite direction. The sight of a cave entered his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll lose that crocodile in that tiny cave entrance.¡± His eyes shone with delight. A light at the end of the tunnel1! Bang! At once, Lin Han kicked away a pile of rubble in front of the cave¡¯s entrance and immediately scuttled through the gap. ¡°Roar!¡± Another enraged howl of the ancient crocodile came from outside. ¡°Hahaha, heaven never bars one¡¯s way.¡± Lin Han laughed out loud now that he was inside the cave. Death was certain, as he was being hunted down by two powerful beings of sixth tier martial arts. However, against all expectations he had attacked one of them and scared off the other eventually. ¡°Perhaps Lin Badao thought I¡¯d die in the hands of the ferocious beast ancient crocodile¡­ Well, after my secluded cultivation in this cave for a few days, I¡¯ll appear at the Martial Arts Tea Party and surprise him to death.¡± Lin Han smiled coldly. Lin Badao had definitely secured a place on his kill list. Outside of the cave, the giant ancient crocodile roared in the sky hysterically; however, Lin Han on the other side was idling around leisurely. He explored further into the cave. Lin Han¡¯s spirit became ultra-sensitive after he progressed into a Level One Spirit Master. He sensed that there existed some kind of unusual Qi energy within the depths of this cave. Tag tag! The depths of the cave brought seclusion and loneliness. Hiss¡­ Hiss¡­ Numerous pairs of bloody eyes were twinkling in red brilliance on the top of the cave. Vampire bats! However, every time a vampire bat landed, Lin Han performed Raging Flames Palm Technique to burn those bats into ashes immediately. Finally, Lin Han arrived at the end of the cave. His eyes flashed. The interior of this cave turned out to be an old storage room. A skeleton sat cross-legged in the center of the room. In front of the bones positioned two simple-looking stone boxes. ¡°Turns out an ancient man who died in a seated posture is hiding in the great canyon within this deep forest.¡± Looking slightly excited, Lin Han murmured to himself as he walked towards the center of the stone room. He looked at the two unadorned stone boxes in front of the skeleton as he came forward to open them. However, his hand suddenly stopped mid-air. ¡°I need to think twice before doing anything. I can¡¯t allow greed to cloud my judgment.¡± The Golden Spirit Fire that flashed in his mind instantly alerted Lin Han and he regained his composure quickly. If the stone boxes were protected by any secret traps or poison, perhaps Lin Han would have fallen into the scheme of an ancient man. At the thought of this, Lin Han groaned slightly, but then his eyes brightened. ¡°Maybe I can try utilizing the method of a Spirit Master.¡± Suddenly, Lin Han retreated away from the two stone boxes far enough to ensure any ruthless secret equipment in the stone boxes would not injure himself. ¡°Buzz.¡± Then, he released his spiritual power. In the next moment, an invisible force slowly approached the two stone boxes. Like a pair of transparent hands, they stroked the box lid and were prepared to open them. Chapter 37 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡®The boxes are nearly open!¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s eyes sparkled when he realized that he could really use his spiritual power to form invisible ¡°hands¡± that could touch the stone boxes. ¡°Crack!¡± This first stone box was opened. He noticed a small jade bottle within. ¡°Right, now for the second one.¡± Instead of checking it right away, he proceeded to open the second box. ¡°Boom¡± The instant Lin Han opened the second stone box, a deafening explosion filled the air. What he saw next shocked him greatly.. A crater appeared where the box was, sending gravel showering on him. If he had stood beside it, he would have been caught in the explosion before he could perform any martial art. Even if he did not die from it, he would have been crippled! Lin Han was glad that he decided to be more careful earlier. As expected, it was always wise to think twice before acting. Later, he slowly approached the first stone box. A small jade bottle was laid inside. Nonetheless, what sparked Lin Han¡¯s interest was the ancient book underneath the bottle. ¡°Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand? A half top-grade martial art?¡± The elated Lin Han quickly opened it. He found a mysterious technique inside, and it was at that moment he felt rewarded. ¡®A half top-grade martial art? ¡®This is huge!¡¯ Lin Han held back his excitement, then stored the book in his spirit ring. Afterward, he looked at the small jade bottle. Pop! When he opened the bottle stopper, he found a drop of blood as red as carnelian1 inside. While he was still befuddled, the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor in his body reacted as if it desired the blood. Lin Han thought to himself. ¡®It¡¯s the same as when I encountered the dragon-tiger beast that day.¡¯ ¡°Is this a drop of dragon blood?¡± He presumed quickly. He came to a sudden realization when he associated it with the ¡®Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand¡¯. It seemed like the martial art passed on by the skeleton required dragon blood to be cultivated. Nevertheless, it was a simple requirement for Lin Han. This was because he cultivated the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, hence his Dragon Power True Element was enough to support any dragon-race-related martial art. As such, he had other plans for the dragon blood. He would use it to temper his body and strengthen his Dragon Emperor Combat Body. Without much hesitation, Lin Han swallowed the dragon blood in the jade bottle, then used the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor to begin the tempering process. Half an hour later. ¡°Boom¡± A powerful force of dragon might spread out from his body as if an Azure Dragon was roaring inside. Lin Han instantly stood up and a flash of golden light could be seen in his black eyes. ¡°My combat power and devouring speed increased by three times!¡± He was very delighted. ¡°Dragon Emperor Combat Body!¡± He activated his Dragon Emperor Combat Body right away. ¡°Boom¡± A threatening aura was released from him. In addition, his skin was thinly plated with gold, which made him look extremely dignified. ¡°Now that my combat power increased three-fold, I can take out a master who just entered sixth tier martial art with my Dragon Emperor Combat Body!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes glowed. However, he could feel that his True Elements were being consumed very quickly, such that even the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor that was devouring the world¡¯s spiritual energy three times faster could not replenish the lost True Element in time. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s impossible to rely on the devouring speed to replenish Dragon Emperor Combat Body¡¯s consumption. I can¡¯t use the combat body as I wish even with its increased power, or I¡¯ll be worn out too quickly.¡± Lin Han went into deep thought. He always liked to make sure of everything he had, including the cards in his hands, his tricks, and his weaknesses. For all that, Lin Han was still happy with what he gained. After all, the constant transformation of his Dragon Emperor Combat Body meant that his defensive ability had improved. ¡°Sure enough, training outside the sect is the best way. Even though I¡¯m more likely to be put in a life or death situation, good fortune follows upon disaster, or I wouldn¡¯t have gained this great treasure!¡± Lin Han knew that his cultivation base would only improve by a little if he chose to remain in his clan, and he would not have come across any opportunity. Opportunities would not fall from the sky, thus one needed to work hard to encounter one. Subsequently, he cupped his hands at the sitting skeleton. ¡°Regardless, you¡¯re the one who left this opportunity here for me. It¡¯s only right that I bury you for you to rest in peace.¡± With that, Lin Han formed a big hole on the ground with his palm, then buried the skeleton. ¡°Eh?¡± When he was about to leave, he glanced at where the skeleton sat and realized that something was off. The spot was clearly different from the area around it, the soil was loose as though something was hidden inside. Without great perception, Lin Han could not have noticed it. He quickly walked over to dig the spot, then found an old sword case buried within. Since a long time had passed, the case had been completely eroded, but a longsword was hidden within. Ching! Lin Han pulled the sword out. While the sword was still in one piece, rust stains covered the blade. It seemed like the sword was going to shatter into pieces with the slightest pressure. Lin Han held the rusty sword tightly, then swung it at a bluestone that weighed a thousand pounds. ¡°Crack¡± The rusty longsword crushed the stone like it was a knife through butter. Intrigued, Lin Han wanted to incorporate his True Element within the sword. After all, the higher the grade of a weapon, the stronger it would be if it was used with True Element. Despite that, nothing changed no matter how much True Element Lin Han incorporated into it. It was just like a clay ox entering the sea. Upon seeing this, Lin Han fell silent. The sword was definitely not just rusty junk. Following that, Lin Han carried the sword on his back and walked toward the cave exit. ¡°Roar!¡± Roars could still be heard outside. Lin Han looked outside the cave. The ferocious ancient crocodile was lying down at the center of the canyon as if it was waiting for Lin Han. Lin Han wanted to curse at it. ¡°The Martial Arts Tea Party is in a few days anyway, so I might as well cultivate in this cave until then to stabilize my cultivation base and comprehend the Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand, the half top-grade martial art.¡± Determined, he entered the cave again and began cultivating in a stone room. An hour¡­ Two hours¡­ Three hours¡­ Half a day¡­ A day¡­ Two days¡­ Lin Han was fully focused on his cultivation. His cultivation base and martial arts were improving by leaps and bounds. Chapter 38 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation In the cave, Lin Han stood in front of a ten-thousand-pound rock with his eyes shut. All of a sudden, he opened his eyes. ¡°Boom¡± A threatening band of True Element gushed out from his Dantian and flowed into one of his arms. Whoosh! His arm violently expanded to more than double its size. His green robe tore open and his muscles bulged up in a dark green color. His arm morphed to something formidable, resembling solid iron. ¡°Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand!¡± He yelled at an instant, then swung his ¡°dragon arm¡± at the gigantic rock. ¡°Boom¡± A thunderous explosion was heard. The end of his dark green arm was as powerful as a dragon claw as it smashed the gigantic rock into bits. ¡°What terrifying force! And I¡¯ve only comprehended it to the Minor Advancement state!¡± Lin Han gasped when he witnessed what he could do. The attack could very well kill a master who had just entered sixth tier martial arts. Nonetheless, the attack consumed nearly a third of Lin Han¡¯s True Elements. The consumption would likely be higher for normal Warriors. Lin Han was slightly fearful. His imagination suddenly swelled to a place he was afraid to go. ¡®If I activate Dragon Emperor Combat Body to increase my combat power by thrice and attack with the Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand, I wonder if I¡¯ll be equal in force with masters at the peak of sixth tier martial art, or even the Grandmasters.¡¯ Lin Han dared not act on it, though. This was because activating his Dragon Emperor Combat Body and attacking with Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand likely meant that his Dragon Power True Element would be instantly emptied. They were both excellent trump cards for Lin Han. Although the path of a Spirit Master was mysterious, he was still a beginner. He could not deal much damage as it merely served to support him. With that, he pulled the rusty sword out. In fact, Lin Han¡¯s sword path was also one of his trump cards, and it required a lower consumption. However, the Killing Sword Art¡¯s grade was too high as it was a real top-grade martial art, and Lin Han had been spending the past two days comprehending the Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand, hence he was still stuck at the second form, Sky Splitting Form. That being said, when he consumed a substantial amount of spiritual power earlier, he finally used his Golden Spirit Fire to derive the remaining missing piece of the Killing Sword Art. Once he had worked out the fourth form, Sky Destroying Form, he would definitely be a force to be reckoned with. In the process, Lin Han realized that the fourth form somewhat involved the conception of a real sword technique. Despite that, further discovery was needed. Right then, he used his mind¡¯s eye to view his Dantian and found that an illusory smelting furnace was constantly absorbing the Heaven and Earth¡¯s essence and Qi for him. Ever since he refined the drop of dragon blood, he acquired a devouring speed three times faster than before. Therefore, his cultivation speed also became three times faster than usual. While it had only been two days, it was as though Lin Han had cultivated for six. Thus, his Dantian became more abundant in True Element, and he was almost at the peak of fifth tier martial art, such that he was only a step away from entering the sixth tier. ¡°Based on my current strength and skills, I¡¯m probably one of the top in the Inner Residence. If I meet Lin Duanjian, I¡¯ll definitely make his blood splatter it in the survival arena!¡± Lin Han had a strong killing intent. He remembered very clearly about the day he was disgraced by Lin Duanjian¡¯s sword. On that day, Lin Han was as tiny as an ant that could be easily killed. For all that, his strength improved greatly. It was no longer a wild dream for him to exact his revenge. ¡°Roar!¡± A roar was suddenly heard, causing Lin Han¡¯s face to take on a ghastly look. The ancient crocodile, the king of ferocious beasts in Broken Sky Forest, had no intention of leaving at all. It seemed like it was going to settle down outside the cave. Lin Han cursed inwardly. ¡°Today¡¯s the day of the Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party, yet I¡¯m stuck in this dark cave because of a despicable beast¡­ No way! I must find a way out, I mustn¡¯t miss the tea party!¡± Lin Han frowned, then began thinking¡­ ¡­ Broken Sky City, Lin Clan Sect Residence. Excited cheers could be heard in the Inner Residence and the Outer Residence. This was because it was the opening day of the annual Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party. Though the Martial Arts Tea Party was in fact called a tea party, it was the day for the reshuffling of the pecking order among the gifted genius disciples in the Inner Residence. The top twenty-five disciples from the Outer Residence Competition were eager to fight for a spot to be one of the fifty disciples in the Inner Residence. Once succeeded, one would be respectable in the sect residence. One¡¯s wealth, authority, status¡­ Everything would change. In the Inner Residence, inside the survival arena. The members from Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s senior echelons showed up. Even the honorable residence master was present. He was a middle-aged man dressed in a robe, who had a lofty presence and a dignified look. He sat in the middle like an emperor as he overlooked the disciples. In front of the survival arena, mysterious and powerful Inner Residence disciples gathered. For instance, the Inner Residence Greatest Disciple, Lin Gutian, who was also known as one of the Five Prides of Broken Sky City, Lin Yu the Second Disciple, Lin Duanjian the Third Disciple, and so on¡­ When the Martial Arts Tea Party was already soaked in a lively atmosphere, a few people mumbled among themselves. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Lin Han here yet?¡± The elegant Lin Ruyan looked around her as she was puzzled. ¡°Lin Han¡¯s not here yet?¡± Lin Duanjian could not see Lin Han either. ¡°Did that fella escape from the clan because he¡¯s afraid that I¡¯ll kill him? I should¡¯ve just killed him that day!¡± On the other hand, among the Outer Residence disciples. The few disciples who had higher rankings, for example, Lin Tian, Lin Sha, and Lin Yan were very anxious. They felt uneasy because Lin Han did not appear. After all, Lin Han had become the pillar and the spiritual belief of the Outer Residence disciple. If he did not show up in the Martial Arts Tea Party, it would be a huge blow to the other disciples. ¡®Is he escaping from the battle?¡¯ A few of them shook their heads. They knew very well that Lin Han was not like that. Especially Lin Yan, he knew that he would rather break than bend, so it was impossible that he escaped. ¡°Lin Sha, go take a look at Brother Lin Han¡¯s residence, we must find him,¡± Lin Yan said to a stern man beside him. ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Sha nodded seriously, then left. Ever since he was defeated by Lin Han in one move during the registration, who was known as an undefeated myth after the Outer Residence Competition, he no longer had resentment. He was in awe of him. Previously when the Governor¡¯s Residence disciple, Luo Feiyun, injured a number of Outer Residence disciples, Lin Han beat him down to the point that he apologized. As such, Lin Sha respected him too. In fact, all Outer Residence disciples were impressed with Lin Han, whether it was at his strength or at his character. For now, a middle-aged man with cruel looks among the sect residence¡¯s upper levels was very pleased. The man was Lin Badao. ¡°Lin Han that little b*stard was probably killed by the ferocious beast, it¡¯ll be strange if he¡¯s here¡­¡± Lin Badao smiled sinisterly. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Lin Han here?¡± Another person from the sect residence¡¯s higher management was also curious about Lin Han¡¯s absence. That person was the Inner Residence elder who hosted the Outer Residence Competition. He was confused. ¡°Did something happen? If he comes, he might have a place in the top three ranks in the Inner Residence¡­¡± ¡­ At Broken Sky Forest, in a cave beneath a canyon. Lin Han was racking his brains on how to free himself. Chapter 39 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡®What exactly should I do?¡¯ Lin Han felt like he was in a tricky situation when he looked at the gigantic ancient crocodile in the middle of the canyon. ¡®Should I scare it with the Golden Azure Dragon¡¯s soul? ¡®I used it before, so it might not work a second time. ¡®Should I activate my Dragon Emperor Combat Body and attack it with my Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand?¡¯ The ancient crocodile was the size of a small hill and had black scales that seemed like they were formed using molten iron. Lin Han knew that he could not break free so easily. Being the king of ferocious beasts in Broken Sky Forest, it could very well trample over a Grandmaster who was above seventh tier martial art. Lin Han felt helpless. ¡®Do I really have no luck with the sect residence¡¯s Martial Art Tea Party?¡¯ ¡°Eh? I¡¯ve found a demonic beast with the strength of True Martial Boundary actually at a remote place like this? Oh, wait, it¡¯s not inat the True Martial Boundary yet, it only has a fierce ancient bloodline that gives it a powerful aura. If it¡¯s trained well, it might be a good assistant.¡± Out of the blue, a voice was heard from above the canyon. Lin Han immediately suppressed his aura, then looked outside using Spirit Master Heavenly Eye. He was immediately taken aback. A young man in iron-black clothes was seen in mid-air in the canyon, and was like a spirit that appeared out of thin air. ¡®Stepping on air?¡¯ Lin Han was utterly stupefied. From what he knew, even the most powerful Grandmaster could not fly freely, let alone step on air. Grandmasters could at most glide in the air with the help of wind energy, but that was not considered flying. However, the mysterious iron-clothed man was able to step on air, whereby he was standing mid-air. ¡®What cultivation base is he at?!¡¯ ¡°Buzz!¡± Right then, the air vibrated for a moment. A blue figure flew from afar, and was also stepping on air to approach the iron-clothed man. The figure was a lady who was around twenty years old. She had delicate looks, gentle movements, and her blue outfit was fluttering in the air. ¡°Junior Sister, this ancient crocodile has an unordinary bloodline. It¡¯s one from a ferocious beast in ancient times. If you capture it, you might be able to train it into a familiar that¡¯s in the True Martial Boundary.¡± The iron-clothed man was tall, handsome, and had a pair of dazzling eyes. His black iron clothing shone in cold luster, and he held a battle dagger-axe. Additionally, his strong killing intent gave a feeling that he drank the blood of ten thousand creatures, and that he possessed a frightening ancient force. ¡°Its aura is indeed unordinary, I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡± The blue-clothed lady smiled sweetly as she took a step out. She fluttered above the ancient crocodile, and she looked graceful due to her silky hair and her fair skin. Her eyes glowed the moment she pressed on the crocodile with her bare hand. Subsequently, the ancient crocodile on the canyon trembled, and fear could be seen through its bloodshot eyes. ¡°Rise!¡± Later, the blue-clothed lady uttered, then opened a bag on her waist that was shining in spiritual light. Hu! Light emerged from the bag and seemed to shrink the ferocious beast while it roared fearfully. At last, it was contained in the bag. ¡°Junior Sister, you¡¯re becoming more skilled at the Beast Training Technique.¡± The iron-clothed man smiled. Following that, they transformed into two light streams that zoomed away. They disappeared from the canyon in the blink of an eye. Pat! A drop of cold sweat slid down from Lin Han¡¯s face. At the very last moment, Lin Han clearly noticed the iron-clothed man cast a glancing look at him. ¡®He noticed me!¡¯ That instant, Lin Han felt as if he had descended into the depths of Hell. A mountain of corpses and a sea of blood filled his vision. Nevertheless, the iron-clothed man left in the end. Lin Han knew that perhaps he was merely an insignificant ant to the mysterious man. Therefore, the man was not concerned. Nonetheless, all Lin Han could feel was fear. Earlier on, if he had not become a Level One Spirit Master, and without the Golden Spirit Fire¡¯s protection, the iron-clothed man¡¯s look could have crushed his soul and will. Upon realizing that, he fell silent. Whether it was the fact that they were stepping on air, the blue-clothed lady keeping the ancient crocodile in her bag, the iron-clothed man¡¯s fearsome look, or the ¡°True Martial Boundary¡± they mentioned¡­ They were beyond Lin Han¡¯s understanding of martial arts. The young man and lady¡¯s cultivation bases were certainly way beyond a Grandmaster¡¯s. Furthermore, they were very young. ¡®Where exactly are they from that they possess such frightening and unbelievable power?¡¯ Lin Han suddenly recalled the earthshaking scene he saw when he received the First Ancient Dragon Emperor¡¯s inheritance. It seemed like what was stated in the ancient book was real. A Warrior who cultivated until the limits of humanity would no longer be limited to worldly visions, and would become a powerful being that could destroy Heaven and Earth. ¡°Hu!¡± Lin Han exhaled. He was not disappointed at all. Instead, he was excited. Though the young man and lady were horrifying and were far beyond his reach, he knew that he would become like them if he worked hard since he had the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. He would roam the vault of Heaven, and would overlook the common people from above. Lin Han quickly held back his excitement and composed himself. He was freed of his predicament since the ancient crocodile was captured by the blue-clothed lady. Peng! Lin Han quickly broke out from the cave. He activated his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye. If there were other Spirit Masters around, they could see a huge spirit-shaped eyeball that looked like Heaven¡¯s eye emerging from Lin Han¡¯s head into the sky. It served to broaden his vision. Lin Han quickly found a way out, then flew out of Broken Sky Forest. It would normally take half a day to return to Broken Sky City from Broken Sky Forest. However, Lin Han was different from what he used to be. His Startled Swan Body Technique had been comprehended to the Pinnacle stage, which allowed him to walk with flying feet, and to travel as fast as a dragon. He could return to the city in a few hours. During his journey, he kept thinking about the horrifying look from the mysterious iron-clothed man. There was an intense killing power in his look. He was someone that could not be measured by the measures of ordinary martial arts. Perhaps it was a force that involved one¡¯s soul and will. ¡®Soul?¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s eyes glowed. ¡°If I derived the conception of that killing look through the Golden Spirit Fire, I might be able to get a killing method based on my soul and will.¡± He was not one to dawdle. ¡®I¡¯ll do it now!¡¯ Hence, while he hurried back to the city, he began meditating to comprehend it. Chapter 40 Lin Han rushed toward his destination. At the same time, he tried to arrange the thoughts that swirled in his head. As his thoughts were deep in the Golden Spirit Fire, he kept thinking back to the look that the mysterious iron-clothed man gave him. That cold look with endless killing intent made him feel as though he had fallen into Hell. His vision had been flooded with piles of corpses and a sea of blood. As he tried to understand it, his face turned pale. Deriving the conception through Golden Spirit Fire consumed an extreme amount of mental power and spiritual power. In spite of that, he endured it. If he could apprehend even a bit of that technique, he might be able to do what the mysterious man and the lady could. That also meant acquiring another attack method of a Spirit Master from scratch. The path of a Spirit Master was very elusive. Although Lin Han had the Soul Divine Book given to him from the Golden Spirit Fire, of the techniques in the book he only gained the Spirit Master Heavenly Eye as of now. Besides, it was only used to support his combat, for instance, he used it to inspect the geography, detect another person¡¯s cultivation base, see tracks during battles, and so on. It could not be used for killing. Therefore, Lin Han was eager to understand the iron-clothed man¡¯s look. Of course, the look did not mean that the iron-clothed man was a Spirit Master. It was just that a person who was able to achieve that man¡¯s martial arts boundary would mean that he would more or less possess a strong and formidable aura. A warrior like that was truly extraordinary. ¡°I¡¯m almost there, I¡¯ve almost got it¡­¡± Lin Han was feeling elated. If he succeeded, he would get another trump card to play during the Martial Arts Tea Party. After all, according to ¡°Uncle Ghost¡±, those who cultivated the qualities of a Spirit Master were rare, and those with innate abilities to awaken it as he did were even harder to find. There were very few Spirit Masters in the Lingwu Continent, let alone the Yan Kingdom. Spirit Masters had become a legend in the continent. They were all strange and mysterious. This was because their techniques involved the soul, will, and mind. He had abilities to attack things that were beyond one¡¯s body, which was something difficult to believe for the average person. As Lin Han¡¯s spiritual power was being consumed, he slowly comprehended the soul-attacking gaze he felt just now. He named it ¡°Killing Eye¡±. ¡­ Lin Han returned to Broken Sky City that afternoon. He headed straight to Lin Clan Sect Residence without stopping and did not even have time to sell the items he collected from the forest. Once he was in the sect residence, he removed his spirit ring and kept it in his robe to prevent others from noticing anything out of the ordinary. As for the rusty sword that he carried, he had no intention of hiding that. Nobody would want the seemingly terribly rusty sword even if he were to throw it to the ground. Nonetheless, Lin Han knew that it was very sharp and tough, unlike its appearance. ¡°I heard that this year¡¯s Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party is fraught with intense competition, and there are quite a number of new-generation geniuses from the Outer Residence. For example, Lin Tian and Lin Ruyan who unbelievably fought their way into the top twenty ranks in the Inner Residence.¡± ¡°Lin Yan and Lin Sha also made it to the top fifty. They¡¯ve pretty much secured their spots in the Inner Residence.¡± ¡°Oh right, how about the rookie from the Outer Residence Competition, Lin Han? Why haven¡¯t I heard any news about him?¡± ¡°He seems to have escaped. I heard that a powerhouse in the Inner Residence had something against him¡­¡± Along the way, Lin Han overheard the whispers from many people. Nevertheless, he moved through the crows like a phantom using the Startled Swan Body Technique, thus nobody noticed him. ¡°Looks like Lin Xue really did disappear¡­.¡± Lin Han was silent as he had not heard anything regarding Lin Xue. The person whom he really favored within the Outer Residence was Lin Xue, a mysterious Spirit Master. In fact, he felt a hint of gratitude toward him. Without Lin Xue stimulating his spirit¡¯s appearance, Lin Han would only chance upon the peculiar path of a Spirit Master much later in life. . ¡°The Martial Arts Tea Party has come to an end!¡± An energetic voice could be heard coming from afar, Lin Han heard it with his strong perception. ¡°Oh no! The Martial Art Tea Party¡¯s finished?¡± Lin Han¡¯s face fell. He instantly sped up crossing the big river to enter the Inner Residence. He noticed at first glance that there were a total of fifty huge stone pillars in front of the survival arena. Every pillar was different in height, but they were all occupied by someone sitting on top of each pillar. They were the fifty Inner Residence disciples! The lowest-ranked disciple sat on the lowest stone pillar, whereas the top-ranked disciple sat on the highest. Lin Han noticed a few familiar faces after taking a brief look. Among them were Lin Ruyan, Lin Tian, Lin Yan, and Lin Sha. There was also Lin Duanjian who was sitting straight on the third-highest stone pillar. ¡°Lin Han¡¯s here!¡± Someone who noticed Lin Han announced out loud. The countless Outer Residence disciples who were there to spectate were in an uproar. Even the Inner Residence disciples on the stone pillars were shocked when they saw the green-robed man walking into the Inner Residence. After all, Lin Han earned himself the title of the king of the rookies from the Outer Residence Competition and became quite popular in the Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°I¡¯m too late¡­¡± Lin Han¡¯s expression turned dull. ¡°Lin Han, quick, get into the survival arena!¡± A familiar voice! Lin Han turned to find that it was the Inner Residence elder who hosted the Outer Residence Competition. He was urging Lin Han with his expression. ¡®Get into the survival arena?¡¯ Lin Han¡¯s eyes brightened immediately. He performed his body technique to make his way to the huge blood-covered survival arena. ¡°Lin Han stepped into the arena at the last moment, even though he¡¯s late. As the resident sect elder, I am granting him this opportunity,¡± The Inner Residence elder mentioned. He had had a favorable opinion of Lin Han all along, thus he naturally wanted to help him. As such, Lin Han was grateful. He bowed at the Inner Residence elder. He knew that the elder would have driven out anyone else who was late. ¡°Lin Han?! He¡­ He¡¯s still alive?!¡±Read more chapters at Listnovel.com The person who was the most shocked at that moment was none other than Lin Badao on the spectator¡¯s stands. Seeing Lin Han returning unscathed with a powerful aura surrounding him, he broke out in cold sweat. When Lin Han walked toward the survival arena, he looked at the fifty stone pillars. He saw the hopeful looks from Lin Ruyan and Lin Yan, as well as the strange looks from the other Inner Residence disciples. ¡°I think that the sect residence¡¯s rules mustn¡¯t be broken. Since Lin Han disregarded the law by being late to the Martial Arts Tea Party, he shouldn¡¯t be allowed to participate in it!¡± Without warning, a cold voice was heard. Following that, the crowd looked over. It was Lin Badao! His expression was gloomy. This was because Lin Han was a huge threat to him. If he were to take part in the Martial Arts Tea Party, he could easily enter the Inner Residence. It would be troublesome to kill Lin Han if he became an Inner Residence disciple. Looking at Lin Badao¡¯s gloomy face, Lin Han was aware of his scheme as well. However, he did not reveal his grudge between him and Lin Badao. Firstly, he was still an insignificant disciple. If he were to reveal it, nobody would believe him, and it would cause him more trouble instead. Secondly, he was determined to kill Lin Badao, thus he did not want to act rashly and alert him. He needed to keep his plans secret so that nobody would suspect him. Thirdly, Lin Wuya had been killed by his own ice arrow. If he disclosed this secret, Lin Badao would likely publicize the fact that it was his doing, and they would both be punished in the end. Lin Han decided to keep quiet. On the other hand, Lin Badao seemed to think that Lin Han was afraid, thus he objected to the Inner Residence elder¡¯s suggestion and was adamant about casting Lin Han out of the Martial Arts Tea Party. After all, there was a great disparity between an Outer Residence disciple and an Inner Residence disciple. Upon hearing that, the Inner Residence elder was displeased. He did not expect someone else from the sect residence¡¯s upper level to throw Lin Han out of the tea party. ¡®This is going to be tough.¡¯ The Inner Residence elder smiled bitterly at Lin Han. ¡°Lin Han? The remarkable subdivision disciple from the Outer Residence Competition?¡± The crowd was in shock as they looked over. It was the resident master who spoke! In a commanding, majestic tone, he said, ¡°The Lin Clan Sect Resident isn¡¯t a place that stubbornly adheres to outworn rules! Lin Han, you¡¯re the Outer Residence¡¯s Greatest Disciple, so you have the privilege of a second chance. I now permit you to enter the survival arena to challenge an Inner Residence disciple, but you only have one chance, you must consider your choice carefully!¡± Lin Badao¡¯s face instantly changed. ¡°Residence Master, Lin Han is very late, we can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°My word is final!¡± The residence master glared at Lin Badao. ¡°Yes, Residence Master!¡± Lin Badao quickly dropped the idea. He froze with a terrible look on his face as he watched Lin Han stepping onto the survival arena. Chapter 41 Lin Han stood in the survival arena. He glanced at the fifty stone pillars. Through his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye, he saw through each Inner Residence disciple¡¯s strength and realized that they were all around the fifth tier of martial arts. Lin Ruyan and Lin Tian who finished fifteenth and twentieth respectively possessed strong combat prowess as well; they were on the cusp of sixth tier martial arts. Upon seeing this, Lin Han was taken aback. ¡®Looks like I wasn¡¯t the only one who improved, the others have been advancing quickly too.¡¯ Nevertheless, Lin Han had a chance encounter during his trip to Broken Sky Forest. Without activating his Dragon Emperor Combat Body, he could still put up a good fight against his opponents. Even Lin Han himself was unaware of how powerful he actually was. By his estimate, without activating the Dragon Emperor Combat Body, he would be able to go up against a master who had just entered sixth tier martial arts. If he activated the body to increase his combat power by three times, consuming huge amounts of True Element, he could very well go against a powerhouse at the peak of sixth tier martial arts! By observing through his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye, he noticed that the top ten Inner Residence disciples were in sixth tier martial arts, but their energies varied from one another. Lin Gutian who was the strongest sat on the highest stone pillar. He wore a black robe, and was resting with his eyes closed in a dignified manner. Nobody could shake him off his pillar! Lin Han was secretly surprised because he could not see through his cultivation base completely even by using his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye. He could only deduce that Lin Gutian was already at the cusp of the Grandmaster Boundary, or he had already entered seventh tier martial art and became a Grandmaster! It was indeed quite fearsome for Lin Gutian for his cultivation base to be at such a level at such a young age. Lin Han would have been in awe, but ever since he witnessed the incredible power of the mysterious man and lady at Broken Sky Forest¡¯s canyon, he was no longer amazed by Lin Gutian. ¡°Hmm?¡± Right then, Lin Han sensed killing intent from above. ¡®Lin Duanjian!¡¯ Lin Han looked at him coldly. He had already put Lin Duanjian in his list of targets and was determined to kill him. Since Lin Gutian was likely in Grandmaster Boundary already, while Lin Han could fight toe to toe with him by activating his Dragon Emperor Combat Body, a victory was unlikely. ¡°I¡¯m taking the third spot.¡± Lin Han suddenly announced indifferently. It was as though he was pointing at Lin Duanjian with a sword. He decided to use his chance on Lin Duanjian after careful consideration. Firstly, he might not be able to defeat Lin Gutian even if he exerted all his force. If that were the case he would not be qualified to enter the Inner Residence. After all, his cultivation period was too short, and he was still far from being the ¡°Five Prides¡± of Broken Sky City. Secondly, it would not mean anything even if he won Lin Gutian by using all of his trump cards. This was because the top three from the Martial Arts Tea Party would receive the same treatment, and would be equally rewarded. It was the generous reward that Lin Han really wanted, hence the ranking was unimportant. Thirdly, Lin Han knew that Lin Badao would be alerted if he revealed his full combat power. This would only ruin his plan to kill him. Fourthly, which was also the most important point¡­. Lin Han was determined to kill Lin Duanjian. It was time for him to disgrace that man. While Lin Han was full of determination, he was not reckless. In fact, after his Essence, Qi and Spirit were transformed by the Golden Spirit Fire, he was emotionally steadier than his peers. After analyzing calmly and considering the possibilities, he decided to¡­ He decided to challenge Lin Duanjian to kill him in the survival arena! Right after Lin Han declared his intentions, the crowd was in an uproar. ¡®Lin Han¡¯s going to challenge Lin Duan Jian, who¡¯s ranked third?!¡¯ ¡®Is he out of his mind!?¡¯ Many of the Outer Residence disciples were worried. Even though Lin Han was the ¡°unbeaten myth¡± to them, they knew that Lin Duanjian who was ranked third in the Inner Residence was extremely powerful. ¡°Lin Han¡¯s being too careless.¡± ¡°So what if he¡¯s the king of rookies in the Outer Residence? He¡¯s so presumptuous!¡± ¡°Is he challenging Lin Duanjian right away? Hehe, that fella¡¯s fearless.¡± The Inner Residence disciples were scornful. Since they were also from the Inner Residence, they were aware of how terrifying the top three disciples were. Even the sect residence¡¯s elders furrowed their brows. ¡®This junior is being too overconfident, isn¡¯t he?¡¯ ¡°Hahaha! Lin Han you little b*stard, you¡¯re courting death. Looks like I won¡¯t have to kill you myself¡­¡± Lin Badao was instantly delighted. Despite all that, Lin Ruyan was the only person who remained calm. She was confident of the green-robed man in the survival arena. ¡®Since ¡°Uncle Ghost¡± fancies him, he¡¯s definitely not anything ordinary.¡¯ Furthermore, Lin Ruyan and Lin Han were quite close. She knew that he was a tenacious person who would not boast so casually. Not far away from Lin Ruyan, another young disciple was displeased. The disciple was Lin Cai, who was ranked fourth. During the Outer Residence Competition, he was indifferent about Lin Han. However, Lin Han was the one who did not ¡°spare a glance¡± for him this time as he skipped him to challenge Lin Duanjian who was ranked third. Lin Cai felt humiliated. A cruel smile could be seen on his face. ¡°Even I can¡¯t withstand Lin Duanjian¡¯s sword technique. Lin Han, you¡¯ll be chopped into pieces soon¡­¡± On the other hand, Lin Jiao who was ranked fifth looked at Lin Han with her beautiful eyes. She seemed to think highly of him. Lin Han¡¯s overbearing announcement earlier attracted everyone¡¯s attention. The crowd was focused on his battle with Lin Duanjian. Even Lin Gutian, who was resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes slightly. He glanced at Lin Han. ¡®Fifth tier martial arts?¡¯ As soon as Lin Gutian detected Lin Han¡¯s aura, he was no longer interested. He looked away as he was disappointed. When he looked to the side, he smiled when he noticed a graceful figure in a dark green dress. ¡®Lin Ruyan.¡¯ The mysterious and powerful Lin Gutian never regarded anyone, but he seemed to be moved by Lin Ruyan. It made sense since she was exceedingly beautiful. She had a strong cultivation base, and was also very favored in the Lin Clan Sect Residence. Anyone would be moved by a beautiful gifted lady like her. In fact, Lin Han who was set on pursuing strength and power was also stunned by her beauty under the moonlight that night. That being said, Lin Han only had one aim at the moment since he bore the will and mission of the First Ancient Dragon Emperor. His aim was to become more and more powerful! He wanted to become powerful enough to search the strange Ancient Land, and to kill ¡°Ice Goddess¡± Lan Bingyan, the ruthless lady who harmed the Dragon Emperor. Therefore, Lin Han went with the flow when it came to relationships with the opposite sex, and he would not express his feelings on purpose. ¡°Lin Han, very well!¡± Lin Duanjian sneered and leaped down from the huge stone pillar. He looked at Lin Han who was calm with a strong killing intent as he said, ¡°Huh, I¡¯d thought that you¡¯d escaped out of fear, but you¡¯re standing on the survival arena now, and you¡¯re even challenging me¡­ I don¡¯t get it. Where do you get your courage from?¡± ¡°What are you, really? Do I even need courage to challenge you?¡± Lin Han uttered coldly. ¡°You¡­¡± Lin Duanjian did not expect Lin Han to speak so coldly. He was furious, but a smirk quickly appeared on his lips. ¡°You¡¯re sharp-tongued, aren¡¯t you! I¡¯ll let you know the meaning of powerlessness and hopelessness!¡± Clang! In a flash, Lin Duanjian swung his black longsword at Lin Han. He was going to kill Lin Han with one thunderous move! However, he had no idea that Lin Han was no longer the insignificant ant that he once viewed him as. Chapter 42 Clang! Lin Duanjian was a great threat. The moment he spoke, he immediately unsheathed his longsword and it morphed into a streak of black sword-light. It seemed to exude murderous intent that wanted to kill Lin Han right in that moment. ¡°Hmph, Lin Han, you¡¯re finished!¡± Lin Duanjian¡¯s voice was cold, his gaze piercing. At this moment, the expressions of the crowd watching the battle shifted drastically. This Lin Duanjian was actually trying to land a sneak attack. According to the laws of the clan, one first needed to say their name to their opponents before engaging in a battle. However, Lin Duanjian¡¯s murderous intent had overpowered him so to take Lin Han off guard, he had instantly unsheathed his sword. A short distance away, Lin Ruyan, who was sitting atop a stone pillar, watched this unfold. As her expression shifted slightly, her beautiful eyes were gleaming with a hint of worry. Unbeknownst to everyone, Lin Han the lowly subdivision disciple had now taken over a big part of Lin Ruyan¡¯s heart. At this moment, Lin Han was suddenly attacked by Lin Duanjian, which naturally made Lin Ruyan¡¯s heart worry. Lin Gutian also noticed this having been continuously observing Lin Ruyan. He watched Lin Ruyan worry and for some reason, Lin Gutian felt his jealousy grow towards Lin Han, someone who he saw as nothing more than a cricket beneath his feet. ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± Faced with the possibility of death, Lin Han unsheathed his sword and a streak of sword-light cut through the air and a thick chill followed behind it. Quick! Ruthless! Accurate! Lin Han had completely exhibited the essence of Quick Draw Sword. The next moment. ¡°Clang!¡± The sounds of metal against metal resounded. Everyone looked towards them and instantly saw that the tip of Lin Han¡¯s rusted longsword was actually resting against the tip of Lin Duanjian¡¯s black longsword. Extremely precise! Both tips resisted each other! This miraculous scene shocked everyone watching to their core. What kind of eyesight, judgment, and sword mastery was needed for such an act? ¡°Curse you, Lin Han, making me worry for nothing again¡­¡± As she watched this, Lin Ruyan heaved a sigh of relief while she lightly berated under her breath, a tinge of red appearing on her face. ¡°Brother Lin Han is still as strong as expected!¡± Lin Yan, Lin Sha, and the other originally Outer Residence disciples that were now in the Inner Residence were overjoyed. Lin Tian, on the other hand, did not feel any excitement at all despite having already entered the top twenty of the Inner Residence. He watched the expressionless green-robed figure with a bitter smile on his face. That surprise attack Lin Duanjian had pulled off could have only been blocked by the top five disciples. Moreover, there was nobody present that could pull off the ¡°precise¡± block Lin Han just did. Once he thought of this, Lin Tian smiled bitterly again. ¡°Lin Han, the gap between us has been widening every day since the Outer Residence Competition¡­¡± ¡°How is that possible?!¡± At this moment, the person that was most taken aback was Lin Badao, who was sitting upright on a high platform. As part of the elders of the Sect Residence, he knew clearly the powerful capabilities of the top three Inner Residence disciples. He originally thought Lin Duanjian could easily kill Lin Han, and yet¡­ ¡°This boy has such a mysterious aura. It seems killing him will require proper planning¡­¡± Although Lin Badao¡¯s vicious face was calm once more, he was actually plotting against Lin Han internally. In the survival arena. Lin Duanjian stared blankly at Lin Han, who was using the tip of his longsword to block his own. The surprise attack he had planned deliberately was so simply stopped by Lin Han? ¡®Impossible! I refuse to believe it!¡¯ A few days ago, if he had wanted to, he would have killed Lin Han with a single cut from his sword. However, a few days later, he was actually on equal ground with Lin Han? The huge difference made Lin Duanjian¡¯s expression extremely dark. ¡°You¡¯re too unpredictable and ever-changing!¡± Suddenly, Lin Duanjian attacked with his longsword once more. His sword-light abruptly became erratic; black sparks of electricity seemed to be sizzling out of the longsword and they seemed sharp enough to cut through the air. Lin Duanjian¡¯s pitch-black longsword was not of low quality and according to Lin Han¡¯s judgment, it was definitely at least a high-grade weapon. However, his rusty longsword was tough as well! The seemingly rusty body of his longsword was abnormally extremely strong and sharp. ¡°I¡¯ll defeat you in one strike!¡± Suddenly, Lin Han roared. Against Lin Duanjian¡¯s erratic swordsmanship, there was no point in being drawn in and entangled or being passively pulled into its current. The best way was to be strong and overbearing so that victory against his opponent would be achieved in a single strike! ¡°Such an arrogant claim, try me!¡± Lin Duanjian mocked. Even if Lin Han¡¯s Quick Draw Sword was amazing, Lin Duanjian did not believe that a newly-accomplished Outer Residence disciple could achieve much in the way of swordsmanship. ¡°This Lin Han is out of his mind! Duanjian has been learning the way of the sword since he was nine and he started comprehending sword techniques at seventeen. His swordsmanship is profound and mysterious yet this Lin Han claims that he¡¯ll defeat him in a single strike! That¡¯s absolutely ridiculous!¡± Atop the high viewing platform, the face of an old man with white eyebrows shifted into one of rage as soon as he heard Lin Han¡¯s claim of defeating Lin Duanjian with a single strike. ¡°This Lin Han doesn¡¯t seem like a liar,¡± said the residence master suddenly. He watched Lin Han¡¯s overbearing demeanor and he laughed lightly, as if something had occurred to him, ¡°It seems there¡¯s a possibility your disciple just might be defeated in this survival arena.¡± The old man with white eyebrows was a Consecrator of the Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s upper levels and he was halfway to becoming a Martial Grandmaster. If Lin Duanjian were to be defeated here, he would naturally be ashamed as well. Therefore, he was extremely furious at Lin Han¡¯s ¡®lies¡¯. In the survival arena. At this time, Lin Han slowly closed his eyes. What? Lin Han was actually closing his eyes when facing Lin Duanjian¡¯s erratic yet murderous pitch-black sword Qi? What was he trying to do now? Even Lin Duanjian was stunned. However, his eyes gleamed murderously the next moment and the pitch-black longsword in his grasp instantly pierced the air with dozens of strikes, effectively blocking all of Lin Han¡¯s escape routes. ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re dead meat now, boy!¡± It was like Lin Duanjian could already see the bloody scene of Lin Han being chopped into pieces. However, Lin Duanjian and everyone watching did not know that the moment Lin Han had closed his eyes, a spirit-like eyeball, cold and lonely, had ascended from the crown of his head. Like an eye of the heavens, it had stared intently at Lin Duanjian. At this moment, all of Lin Duanjian¡¯s movements, including his body techniques and the trajectories of his longsword, were all taken in by this Spirit Master Heavenly Eye, which was quickly analyzing and dissecting everything it saw. The skill Spirit Master Heavenly Eye printed into the first page of the ¡®Soul Divine Book¡¯ allowed Lin Han to see all martial techniques and skills clearly. ¡°Hum¡± Suddenly, Lin Han opened his eyes and his gaze locked onto the gap in Lin Duanjian¡¯s strange swordsmanship. Although it was tiny, Spirit Master Heavenly Eye still managed to analyze it instantly. ¡°Killing Sword Art! ¡°Sky Splitting Form!¡± At this moment, Lin Han¡¯s rusty longsword whistled as it pierced forwards. Ding! A shrill sword-light instantly split Lin Duanjian¡¯s ever-changing shroud of sword Qi before it the center of Lin Duanjian¡¯s eyebrows. ¡°Pfft¡± His face, stretched by horror, had been instantly split into two by the rusty longsword in Lin Han¡¯s grip. Splat! Blood splattered everywhere as the body fell onto the ground of the survival arena. This entire moment had seemed to stretch on forever. However, it happened in the blink of an eye for the audience. All they saw was Lin Han closing his eyes for one moment before opening them the next. Then, his rusty longsword had split the air, breaking through Lin Duanjian¡¯s sword Qi shroud, and pierced through his head, killing Lin Duanjian instantly. ¡°What?!¡± At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded with shock. The noise of people sucking in their breaths echoed all around. It did not matter if they were Outer Residence disciples, Inner Residence disciples, or the Sect Residence bosses sitting atop the high platform, all were stunned. Lin Han actually killed Lin Duanjian with a single strike? Entirely cutting him off from life? What a terrifying strike! Such powerful observational ability! Such ruthless wisdom! At this moment, everyone looked towards Lin Han, who still seemed very calm, and felt chills run down their spines. ¡°Impudent! You actually killed my disciple publically during the Martial Arts Tea Party, you¡¯ll pay with your life!¡± Suddenly, a furious voice roared from the high platform. An old figure¡¯s eyes were glowing with rage. He smashed an open palm downwards and a shapeless Qi field immediately enveloped Lin Han, who was still in the survival arena. Boom! It pushed down onto Lin Han¡¯s body like an invisible mountain. It was heavy and suffocating! ¡°The Qi field of a Martial Grandmaster! No, it¡¯s slightly weaker, he¡¯s halfway to being a Martial Grandmaster!¡± In an instant, Lin Han¡¯s expression shifted as the fear for his life grew in his heart. Chapter 43 ¡°Boom¡± The horrifyingly pressuring aura had instantly spread out across the entire survival arena. Crack! Crack¡­ Everyone watched in shock as the ground of the survival arena started to crack under the enveloping of the white-eyebrowed old man¡¯s Qi field. They could only imagine just how much pressure Lin Han was under as well. ¡°The heavens decide life and death in the survival arena. So what if I killed Lin Duanjian? Elder, are you going to break clan laws by killing this junior of yours while I¡¯m in here?¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes were cold. Was this white-eyebrowed old man really going to kill him in front of everybody? This was the privilege granted by strength! At this moment, Lin Han saw the residence master watching everything unfold from his seat at the very top. Not only did the residence master do nothing to stop what was happening, but his gaze also seemed to betray an internal struggle. It was as if he was contemplating whether or not defending Lin Han would be worth it. After all, if he were to do anything, he would be offending the white-eyebrowed old man, who was a powerful Consecrator from the Sect Residence. He was half a step from being a Martial Grandmaster! Lin Han gritted his teeth, at this moment, he released the Dragon Emperor Combat Body without hesitation. ¡°Boom¡± The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor¡¯s Dragon Power True Element was being furiously consumed. However, Lin Han instantaneously activated Dragon Emperor Combat Body and gained a three-fold increase in combat power. The surface of his body, right above his skin, glimmered with a faint layer of golden light. ¡°What clan rules? The clan rules won¡¯t stop me from killing you like an ant!¡± When the white-eyebrowed old man heard Lin Han¡¯s shouted question, his expression shifted into one of cruelty. As soon as his words fell, the faces of everyone present changed. Even the face of the residence master, who was usually stoic and reserved, flashed with a disapproving expression. This white-eyebrowed old man was completely disrespecting the Lin Clan Sect Residence in order to exact revenge for his disciple. However, Lin Han knew that this white-eyebrowed old man was not part of the Lin Clan Sect Residence. In fact, he was actually a scattered cultivator[1] that was hired by the upper levels of the Sect Residence as a Consecrator. Therefore, it made sense for the residence master to be struggling to make his decision. One was the genius disciple belonging to his family and the other was an extremely powerful Consecrator and Elder. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place! While the residence master was hesitating on what to do, the white-eyebrowed old man had instantly made his move. ¡°Sky Destroying Great Collapse Hand!¡± The white-eyebrowed old man leaped into the air before diving downwards to slam his palm into mid-air. A giant palm appeared out of thin air and covered the entire survival arena, its aura entirely suppressing. This scene was extremely terrifying! It was a skill used by Martial Grandmasters, who had True Element running through their body. It was a killing technique that was formed through absorbing Essence and Qi from their surroundings. At this moment, everyone¡¯s expressions changed as they watched Lin Han intently, their gazes nervous. Would this giant black horse of the Outer Residence be killed in such a grandiose way? ¡°Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand!¡± Lin Han sucked in a deep breath, the mighty and terrifying Dragon Power True Element instantly boiling in his Dantian. At this moment, his back started curving like a great dragon coiling inwards. He slowly stretched out his right hand and the frightening power of his half top-grade martial art exploded instantly. ¡°Boom¡± Under everyone¡¯s shocked gazes, Lin Han¡¯s right arm suddenly swelled greatly until it became a dark green dragon¡¯s arm. The palm of his hand was now extremely powerful and the dragon claw abruptly smashed towards mid-air. Bang! A terrible explosion suddenly sounded. The three-fold increase in Lin Han¡¯s strength gave his Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand extreme explosive power that was almost equivalent to the power of a complete top-grade martial arts set. ¡°He shattered it!¡± ¡°Such a scary power!¡± ¡°What martial arts is that? That¡¯s unimaginable!¡± The next moment, gasps resounded throughout the entire survival arena. Everyone saw it. The white-eyebrowed old man¡¯s giant hand that he had condensed from Essence and Qi was actually shattered to pieces by Lin Han¡¯s dark green dragon arm. The wrath of someone half a step from being a Martial Grandmaster¡¯s was actually stopped by a disciple of fifth tier martial arts?! At this moment, everyone looked towards Lin Han once more. They suddenly felt that they had never properly understood this lowly subdivision disciple. Every time they saw Lin Han, more and more of his powerful skills emerge to resolve a crisis again and again. ¡°Elder White Eyebrow, stay your hand!¡± Suddenly, the residence master¡¯s stern voice called. Once they heard his order, everyone¡¯s expressions changed into ones of surprise. The residence master was protecting Lin Han? What could this mean? This meant that Lin Han¡¯s capabilities were recognized by the residence master. Even if the residence master would be offending the white-eyebrowed old man, it would still be worth it. As soon as the residence master¡¯s words fell, Lin Ruyan, Lin Yan, and everybody else¡¯s nervous expressions were immediately eased. In the Lin Clan Sect Residence, the residence master held the most power so nobody had ever dared to go against his orders. In the survival arena. Lin Han heaved a small sigh of relief. Although he had shattered the white-eyebrowed old man¡¯s Sky-destroying Great Collapse Hand, the cost of such a technique was incredibly high. The moment the half top-grade martial arts, Dragon Emperor Combat Body exploded, Lin Han had instantly consumed two-thirds of his strength. However, he was still overjoyed since he actually managed to stop a semi-Martial Grandmaster¡¯s act of wrath. This was such an honor! ¡°Take this!¡± Just at this moment, however, the white-eyebrowed old man¡¯s voice sounded once more. What? He was still going to attack? Lin Han quickly did a double-take; this white-eyebrowed old man was publicly going against the residence master¡¯s orders. ¡°White Eyebrow, how dare you!¡± The residence master¡¯s expression instantly became extremely dark. He stomped a foot into the ground before his tall and imposing figure rushed towards the survival arena. However, at this moment, the white-eyebrowed old man¡¯s second wave of attacks had already been unleashed. True Element coursed through his body as he formed a True Element greatsword in his hands. It was so long it cut across the sky as it struck downwards. ¡®This is bad. That sword possesses an extremely horrifying sword Qi, I won¡¯t be able to stop it!¡¯ Once Lin Han realized that he was in another life or death situation, his expression fell. However, he also saw the residence master rushing over from the tall platform. He immediately understood that all he needed was to delay things a little. Once the residence master arrived, this entire crisis would be resolved. Majestic Golden Sun Cover? Lin Han instantly shook his head. The Majestic Golden Sun Cover would not be able to stop the True Element Greatsword from someone half a step from being a Martial Grandmaster. ¡®I can only give that one a try.¡¯ Suddenly, Lin Han directed an intense gaze at the white-eyebrowed old man. At this moment, two pillars of intense light shot out of Lin Han¡¯s eyes. Killing Eye! At this moment, Lin Han could only buy time by using an attack that targeted one¡¯s will, a move that fell between martial arts cultivated by Warriors and spirit arts cultivated by Spirit Masters. This was Lin Han¡¯s second trump card¡ªKilling Eye, which he had comprehended himself! An attack upon the soul and the will would definitely work wonders against Warriors that do not know how to protect their soul and will. ¡°Hum¡± The white-eyebrowed old man met Lin Han¡¯s gaze for an instant. That instant was all it took for his expression to change. In his consciousness, his surroundings had changed entirely. He was no longer in the Inner Residence or in the survival arena. What the white-eyebrowed old man saw instead was mountains of corpses and an endless ocean of blood; countless skeletons floated on the surface of the blood ocean and it reeked of blood. It was like he had been sent to Hell itself. ¡°Cough!¡± The white-eyebrowed old man spat a mouthful of blood. Then, he was transported back as his vision cleared. He was horrified as he stared at Lin Han, completely pale with a confused expression. What was that skill just now? Lin Han actually managed to affect his consciousness and mind? He actually made him see such a terrible illusion? ¡°White Eyebrow, enough!¡± Elder White Eyebrow had just been startled from his illusion but the delay was more than enough for the residence master to enter the survival arena. At this moment, the residence master¡¯s tall and imposing figure was already standing beside Lin Han. In an instant, the white-eyebrowed old man¡¯s overwhelming pressure dissipated entirely. Lin Han could feel an incredibly terrible power coming from the residence master; it was deeply hidden but if it were to explode, it would be absolutely horrifying. It was no wonder the residence master was the strongest person in the Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°Residence master, I am ashamed of myself and I will leave the Sect Residence this instant!¡± Elder White Eyebrow knew there would not be another chance for him to kill Lin Han today. His old eyes shined with unwillingness and resentment but he could only give a fist salute to the residence master before he turned and disappeared into the Inner Residence. At this moment, the entire Inner Residence burst into an uproar after a brief moment of silence. White Eyebrow Elder was the strongest Consecrator in the upper levels of the Inner Residence. A powerhouse that was a half-step from Martial Grandmaster like him was actually thwarted multiple times by Lin Han? What kind of powerful martial arts was that dark green dragon arm? Furthermore, Lin Han had merely given White Eyebrow Elder one look before the elder¡¯s expression changed and he spat out a mouthful of blood. What scary skill was that too? At this moment, Lin Ruyan, who was most familiar with Lin Han, was extremely confused. Throughout her interactions with Lin Han, Lin Ruyan had originally thought that she had completely seen through this subdivision disciple. However, it seemed that she understood him even less now. Lin Han was always shrouded in mystery. His endless stream of skills and his powerful and formidable explosive power had won over all the people of the Lin Clan. He was the biggest dark horse at this Martial Arts Tea Party! Some people were even secretly comparing Lin Han and Lin Gutian. At this, Lin Gutian was slightly displeased. Lin Cai, who was originally watching the good show a short distance away, had long been scared out of his wits. ¡°I now announce the end of the Martial Arts Tea Party!¡± proclaimed the residence master suddenly. [1] Scattered cultivators are people who cultivate independently without joining sects or starting sects of their own. Chapter 44 The residence master¡¯s words indicated that the Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party had officially ended. The results surprised nobody. Although Lin Han, the strongest black horse that had emerged from the Outer Residence, had arrived late, he did not disappoint anyone because he successfully entered the top three of the Inner Residence. Furthermore, that breathtaking display he had shown when he went against Elder White Eyebrow made everyone secretly feel that if Lin Han were to get another chance at a challenge, he just might compete with Lin Gutian for the position of top disciple. In any case, the highly-anticipated Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party was now finally over. Lin Han¡¯s name would also resonate throughout the entire Lin Clan Sect Residence from now on. It might even resonate throughout the entirety of Broken Sky City! Next, the Inner Residence elder that hosted the Martial Arts Tea Party began announcing the rankings. First¡ªLin Gu Tian. Second¡ªLin Yu. Third¡ªLin Han. Fourth¡ªLin Cai. Fifth¡ªLin Jiao. ¡­ Fifteenth¡ªLin Ruyan. ¡­ Twentieth¡ªLin Tian. ¡­ Thirty-sixth¡ªLin Yan. ¡­ Forty-eighth¡ªLin Sha. ¡­ After his announcements, the Inner Residence elder smiled. Although the Martial Arts Tea Party this time had displaced a lot of the original geniuses from the Inner Residence, it had also allowed a lot of dark horses from the Outer Residence to shine. Especially Lin Han, the most prominent dark horse of them all. In fact, some people now already regarded Lin Han as being almost on equal ground with the most mysterious and most powerful Lin Gutian. Many disciples from the Outer Residence even regarded Lin Han as the true number one of the Inner Residence as well. However, Lin Han refused to comment on these speculations. He knew very clearly that if he were to go against Lin Gutian, a genius young man part of the Five Prides of Broken Sky City, he would not only have a low chance of winning, he might even suffer a terrible defeat. However, Lin Han was not discouraged by this. How long had it been since he truly stepped onto the path of martial arts cultivation? He had already achieved so much after only half a month. The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor¡¯s power was evidently very frightening. However, Lin Han has also gradually realized a major shortcoming of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, which was martial arts. That¡¯s right. Many of the inherited cultivation methods for Warriors possessed a set of powerful martial arts. However, the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor had nothing like that. Therefore, Lin Han had to acquire, cultivate, and comprehend martial arts and combat skills himself. The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor blessed Lin Han with a powerful physique, with vigorous Dragon Power True Element, and with the Dragon Emperor Combat Body. However, it appeared that there was nothing that was truly perfect in this world. Lin Han had never comprehended any set of inherited martial arts from the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. This made Lin Han wonder if his cultivation base was too low, which would mean that he did not have the right to access the true inherited martial arts that the unrivaled Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor possessed. Lin Han was not a greedy and insatiable person. Therefore, Lin Han had always only ever sought out more and more powerful martial arts. He always turned a blind eye at cultivation methods. After all, what on earth could be more powerful than his Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor? According to the description given by the dying will of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, cultivating the combination of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor and the Golden Spirit Fire to the end would allow him to access the legendary unrivaled inherited martial arts known as the divine realm. Besides, the Golden Spirit Fire was actually a condensation of the Ancient Dragon Emperor¡¯s divine fire of life. If it were not for the fact that the Ancient Dragon Emperor was betrayed by his most beloved woman, he might have long stepped into the divine realm and became an undying immortal. Fortunately, the secret to becoming a god had crossed through the endless void of space and time and traversed across the vast universe to this tiny speck of dust to land in Lin Han¡¯s lap. At this moment, the residence master stood in the survival arena and began announcing the final prizes for the Martial Arts Tea Party. ¡°The top three Inner Residence disciples¡ªLin Gutian, Lin Yu, and Lin Han, will each be awarded one Element Condensation Pill, one Element Breakthrough Pill, one set of top-grade martial arts, and one stalk of the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. ¡°The fourth to tenth Inner Residence disciples will each be awarded¡­¡± As the residence master announced the prizes, all of the disciples¡¯ eyes gleamed with envy, especially when they heard the prizes for the top three disciples. Element Breakthrough Pill! Top-grade martial arts! In addition to that stalk of Thousand-Year Snow Lotus! Even Lin Han was overjoyed. Giving Lin Han the Element Breakthrough Pill, the set of top-grade martial arts, and that stalk of Thousand-Year Snow Lotus was like giving him a pillow just as he was drowsy. On account of Lin Han being at the peak of fifth tier martial arts, he was just in need of a powerful push for him to break through into sixth tier. Furthermore, if he were to break through into sixth tier, his high-grade martial arts like Majestic Golden Sun Cover and Raging Flames Pain Technique would definitely not be enough for Lin Han anymore. Therefore, more advanced martial arts would be absolutely essential. It just so happened that one of Lin Han¡¯s prizes was a set of top-grade martial arts, which would be able to temporarily make up for his shortcomings. After the residence master was done with his announcement, he immediately ordered the delivery of the prizes to the Inner Residence disciples. Lin Han then received his prizes¡ªone Element Condensation Pill, one Element Breakthrough Pill, one stalk of Thousand-Year Snow Lotus, all in a jade box. Lin Han¡¯s eyes brightened briefly before he stored them away in the Spirit Ring space. As for the set of top-grade martial arts, the top three Inner Residence disciples could just visit the third floor of the martial arts hall to choose one after the end of the Martial Arts Tea Party. ¡­ Lin Han and Lin Ruyan walked together on the way back. Lin Ruyan had jet-black hair, snow-white skin, quick-witted eyes, and tender red lips, which made her beauty breathtaking. However, at this moment, her graceful body revolved around Lin Han lithely, her eyes gleaming coquettishly as she said, ¡°Well, Lin Han, you hid everything so well, haven¡¯t you? Quickly tell me, was that final move you did a Spirit Master skill?¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± said Lin Han with a faint smile, nodding slightly. Their easy conversation made the surrounding Outer Residence and Inner Residence disciples quite envious. After all, Lin Ruyan was the Sect Residence¡¯s ¡®blessed girl from Heaven¡¯ and yet it was like she only had eyes for Lin Han now. This also made a lot of the disciples view Lin Han with deep jealousy. However, once they thought of Lin Han¡¯s overwhelming strength, their jealousy would instantly dissipate. Maybe only a Sect Residence genius like Lin Han was worthy of the blessed girl from Heaven Lin Ruyan. ¡°Elder Brother Lin Han¡­¡± At this moment, in a corner somewhere, Lin Meier watched the gorgeous young lady revolve around Lin Han with tears of remorse brimming in her eyes. However, she too knew that it was impossible for her to return to Lin Han¡¯s side. She had forever lost this childhood friend who used to protect her constantly in Changyun Village. Lin Meier¡¯s gaze was dark as she turned around to leave, her figure gradually disappearing from the Lin Clan Sect Residence. At the same time, another person was also watching Lin Han and Lin Ruyan walk side by side, his gaze cold. ¡°It¡¯s indeed remarkable for a subdivision disciple to be able to reach this point today¡­¡± Lin Gutian watched the gradually disappearing pair of figures, his eyes gleaming with a deep coldness. ¡­ That night, back at the pavilion. Lin Han immediately swallowed both the Element Condensation Pill and the Element Breakthrough Pill without hesitation. The Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor had already bestowed Lin Han with the vigorous and terrifying Dragon Power True Element, so even if he did not activate his Dragon Emperor Combat Body, he still had enough combat power to sweep warriors on the same rank as himself. However, this was also the very thing that was giving Lin Han a slight headache. The more vigorous the True Element in one¡¯s body was, the more difficult it would be to break through into higher boundaries and subsequently, the more power would be required to break through these limits as well. This was why Lin Han chose to eat both the Element Condensation Pill and the Element Breakthrough Pill at the same time. Lin Han spent the next three days and three nights in the pavilion. During this period, it did not matter if it was his servant girl delivering food or a dignitary from the upper levels coming to curry favor with Lin Han, Lin Han refused to see them. However, none of the dignitaries were angry at this. After all, Lin Han¡¯s status was greatly different now. The top three of the Inner Residence actually possessed the capabilities to be on equal levels with the dignitaries of many Sect Residences¡¯ upper levels. For example, Lin Gutian, who is the current top disciple in the Inner Residence, was the first person below the residence master of the Sect Residence. Lin Han, who many viewed as having powerful strength that rivaled Lin Gutian, naturally had an extremely distinguished status as well. In fact, many people were already regarding Lin Han as the top disciple of the Inner Residence. Therefore, nobody dared to disturb Lin Han¡¯s isolated cultivation. This made his servant girl secretly proud. If the people in far away Changyun Village knew their Young Master was achieving so much now, they would definitely be over the moon. Another two days passed. On this fine morning, at a certain moment. ¡°Boom!¡± A powerful aura emanated from the pavilion. The next moment, the door slammed open and a green-robed figure strode out of the pavilion, eyes bright and full of mettle. It was Lin Han. After eating the Element Condensation Pill and the Element Breakthrough Pill, he had finally achieved sixth tier martial arts! ¡°Young Master, you¡¯ve finally come out?¡± His servant girl¡¯s clear voice sounded and the young lady rushed forward immediately to say, ¡°Young Master, Miss Ruyan was here a few days ago. She left you a note and told me to pass it to you as soon as you came out.¡± As she spoke, the young lady handed over a small note. ¡°Lin Ruyan?¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes glinted with confusion as he took the note to immediately read it. Chapter 45 On the note, graceful words came into view. ¡°Lin Han, don¡¯t forget to pick a top-grade martial art from the martial arts hall.¡± The ink also carried a hint of some kind of fragrance. Lin Han was startled, then he smacked his forehead. ¡®Oh right! ¡®I¡¯m one of the top three in the Inner Residence, but I haven¡¯t claimed my last reward, which is a top-grade martial art.¡¯ For a few days, he had been so focused on breaking through that he forgot about it. Subsequently, he stored the note in his spirit ring, and headed toward the martial arts hall. Upon watching Lin Han leave, Xiao Nu bit her lip gently. ¡°Young Master¡¯s getting busier¡­¡± ¡­ It was Lin Han¡¯s third visit to the martial arts hall, but each time he stepped into this place he had a different state of mind. He sighed a little when he looked at the familiar surroundings. After just half a month, it felt like the people had changed although everything else stayed the same. At the martial arts hall¡¯s entrance. ¡°Brother Lin Han!¡± ¡°Brother Lin Han!¡± Two people greeted him respectfully. [1] They were the Lin Clan disciples who guarded the hall that day, and were actually older than Lin Han, yet they greeted him as their brother. They had come to revere him. This time, they would not stop Lin Han no matter what. Lin Han had become the top three disciples in the Inner Residence, and was a new rising star, such that he was even comparable to the powerful Lin Gutian. Therefore, it was natural that the Hall Guard Disciples treated him with reverence and awe. Lin Han only nodded at them lightly to greet them, then he entered the hall. The Hall Guard Disciples discussed softly, ¡°I stopped Brother Lin Han the last time, I wonder if he has a grudge against me.¡± ¡°Look at where he is now, why¡¯d he waste the effort to hold a grudge against you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, I¡¯m relieved¡­¡± Soon, their voices could not be heard anymore. Lin Han was inside the hall. ¡°You¡¯re finally here,¡± Someone mentioned. Lin Han looked to find that it was the Hall Guard Elder. ¡°Elder, I¡¯m here to retrieve a top-grade martial art.¡± He gave a fist salute. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you, come with me.¡± Lin Han had become so honorable that the Hall Guard Elder spoke to him with a sense of politeness. Since Lin Han possessed fearsome talent and qualities, the elder who knew the way of the world knew very well that he would be at the top of the Lin Clan Sect Residence in a few years. However, Lin Han would probably laugh away if he knew what the Hall Guard Elder was thinking. This was because his goals and ambitions were far beyond that. On the third floor of the martial arts hall. Boom, boom¡­ The Hall Guard Elder pushed open a heavy jade door slowly. Lin Han then followed him inside. At one glance, there was only one shelf on the empty third floor, which was completely different from the first and the second floor that had hundreds of shelves stocked with books. ¡°As expected, top-grade martial arts are too precious and rare.¡± When Lin Han walked over he realized that the shelves were lined with dozens of cards made of jade. The Hall Guard Elder walked over to inform him, ¡°Each jade card represents a top-grade martial art showing a detailed description of the respective martial art. Once you decide on one, I¡¯ll retrieve the martial art depiction for you from deep inside the hall.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Han nodded. He did not expect the jade cards to be labels, and that the real top-grade martial arts were stored deep inside the martial arts hall. He felt slightly disappointed. This was because it was impossible for him to ¡°steal¡± a few more top-grade martial arts through the Golden Spirit Fire. Nevertheless, he had already previously acquired the Killing Sword Art and the Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand. ¡°The Killing Sword Art and the Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand are methods of attack and I haven¡¯t comprehended them completely. I need a body technique or a defensive martial art now.¡± Lin Han thought to himself, then began choosing carefully. Half an hour later, he finally decided on Soaring Flight, a body martial art. According to the Hall Guard Elder, one who achieved its Pinnacle state would obtain one of the abilities of a Grandmaster before they entered the Grandmaster boundary ¡ª flying with the help of the wind. Flying. It was an ability dreamed of by countless Warriors, including Lin Han. Besides, Soaring Flight would compensate for his lack of speed. He did not need a defensive martial art as much due to his strong body. Furthermore, the activation of the Dragon Emperor Combat Body turned his bones, flesh, and skin into steel, resulting in a threefold increase in physical strength. It was as good as normal top-grade defensive martial arts. Hence, Soaring Flight was Lin Han¡¯s best option at that moment. Before he left, he asked the Hall Guard Elder at the hall entrance, ¡°If I may ask, are there legendary natural martial arts on the fourth floor?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Hall Guard Elder suddenly looked very solemn, but he quickly smiled bitterly. ¡°But they¡¯re all damaged. Complete natural martial arts probably don¡¯t exist in Broken Sky City or the Yan Kingdom, let alone the Lin Clan Sect Residence.¡± ¡°How can I be qualified to enter the fourth floor?¡± Lin Han continued asking. ¡°Only by being the Inner Residence¡¯s Greatest Disciple for five straight years can one be qualified to enter the fourth floor. One can then comprehend the natural martial arts, which are many times more precious than top-grade martial arts even though they¡¯re damaged.¡± The Hall Guard Elder then said with a tone of envy in his voice, ¡°Lin Gutian¡¯s the only disciple who¡¯s entered the fourth floor.¡± ¡°He entered the fourth floor and acquired a natural martial art?¡± Lin Han was surprised. For some reason, he felt a vague sense of panic. ¡°That¡¯s right. Lin Gutian¡¯s something extraordinary, to the point that he defeated many senior powerhouses in the sect. One mustn¡¯t underestimate him no matter what,¡± The Hall Guard Elder reminded Lin Han. ¡°Thank you for your advice.¡± Lin Han became more alert. He cupped his fists at the elder. ¡®Lin Gutian?Read more chapters at Listnovel.com ¡®He possesses damaged natural martial arts?¡¯ On that day, Lin Han returned to his pavilion without stepping out again. After knowing how powerful and mysterious Lin Gutian was, the little pride that he had disappeared. He knew that he was far from Lin Gutian, one of the ¡°Five Prides¡± of Broken Sky City. As mentioned by the Hall Guard Elder, many senior powerhouses were not Lin Gutian¡¯s match. This meant that he was near to the Grandmaster Boundary even if he was not one just yet. Lin Han continued to develop his martial arts in his pavilion. Through his extraordinary perception, he was advancing by leaps and bounds in Killing Sword Art, Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand, and Soaring Flight, the top-grade martial art that he just picked. Lin Han was like a sponge as he absorbed the martial arts¡¯ essence and profound meaning endlessly. For three whole days, he spent his time comprehending those martial arts. Sure enough, top-grade martial arts were extremely complex. Even after three days, he only made slight progress in his three main martial arts. Following that, Lin Han focused on his cultivation base. He retrieved the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus to consume it. ¡°Boom!¡± The force of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor exploded inside his body right away. An quaint illusory smelting furnace appeared in his Dantian, which absorbed the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus¡¯ medicinal efficacy rapidly. Lin Han¡¯s body became more abundant in True Element. The sixth tier of martial arts was a watershed between it and seventh tier martial art, also known as the Grandmaster Boundary. It was exceptionally difficult to leap through this obstacle. Lin Han could sense its difficulty even though he possessed an unparalleled technique like the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. ¡°The Thousand-Year Snow Lotus only advanced my cultivation base from the Beginner state to the Intermediate state of sixth tier martial arts?¡± Lin Han murmured when he opened his eyes. ¡®This is too slow. ¡®Looks like it won¡¯t do if I just cultivate here, I need real battles to break through. ¡®Additionally, my opponent must be more powerful than me to stimulate my potential, so that I can keep breaking through.¡¯ Lin Han instantly found his direction. ¡°I can probably seek help from Uncle Ghost and ask him to release the force of a powerhouse to incite my potential.¡± He was quickly struck with an idea. ¡­ At the same time, at Lin Ruyan¡¯s residence. Outside the entrance, a tall young man dressed in a black robe approached the residence elegantly. ¡°Younger Sister Ruyan, may I come in? I have something to discuss with you.¡± Lin Gutian¡¯s deep voice was heard. The young man was Lin Gutian. ¡°Brother Gutian?¡± Lin Ruyan walked out gracefully. She was rather confused when he saw Lin Gutian. ¡®Why is the Inner Residence¡¯s Greatest Disciple here to find me?¡¯ [1] It means older brother in this context, whereas Younger Brother is supposedly used to address someone younge Chapter 46 ¡°Ruyan, I¡¯m here to talk about an event in Broken Sky City,¡± Lin Gutian said with a smile. ¡®Ruyan?¡¯ Upon hearing Lin Gutian addressing her so intimately, Lin Ruyan felt uneasy. However, he was a powerful Inner Residence Greatest Disciple in Lin Clan Sect Residence, thus her face remained expressionless. ¡°What event?¡± Lin Gutian was secretly displeased when he noticed her neutral face. He remembered very clearly that she was very ladylike toward Lin Han that day. On the contrary, he could sense her indifference through her eyes at that moment. ¡®Lin Han?¡¯ As such, Lin Gutian became more jealous of Lin Han. Nevertheless, he was able to hide that feeling. He smiled gently. ¡°Half a month later, a Martial Arts Exchange for the younger generation will be held by us ¡®Five Prides of Broken Sky¡¯ in Broken Sky City. Plenty of young masters from the three great forces, which are the Lin Clan Sect Residence, the Shen Clan Sect Residence, and the Governor¡¯s Residence, will participate.¡± Lin Gutian was proud. Especially when he emphasized on ¡®us Five Broken Sky Prides¡¯, he expressed his superiority. He later added, ¡°Ruyan, it¡¯s a rare opportunity, and I want you to join me as my martial arts partner.¡± He spoke in a bossy tone. After finally revealing his intention, he stared at Lin Ruyan closely. ¡®Martial arts partner?¡¯ Lin Ruyan¡¯s expression changed immediately. ¡°Lin Gutian, I addressed you as ¡®Brother Gutian¡¯ because I respect you for being the Inner Residence Greatest Disciple, but don¡¯t ask for more.¡± She spoke coldly. She then continued, ¡°I won¡¯t go to the Martial Arts Exchange. If you have nothing else to say, please leave, and don¡¯t disturb me during my cultivation.¡± ¡°Ruyan, you don¡¯t understand how important it is to have a powerhouse to rely on in the clan. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll let you know one day that I¡¯m your best choice.¡± Instead of being mad, Lin Gutian smiled confidently and left. Just as he turned around, he noticed someone approaching. ¡®Lin Han?¡¯ Lin Gutian kept a straight face as he walked, and he ignored Lin Han. ¡°Brother Gutian,¡± Lin Han greeted. He did not know that Lin Gutian hated him. ¡°You better not come to Ruyan¡¯s place so often, or I¡¯ll show you what happens when you try to steal my girl.¡± Lin Gutian sneered before he walked away. On the other hand, Lin Han was puzzled. He shook his head as he found it ridiculous. ¡®Which girl of his have I stolen?¡¯ ¡°He¡¯s out of his mind,¡± Lin Han mumbled, then continued walking toward Lin Ruyan¡¯s residence. ¡°Lin Han!¡± When Lin Ruyan suddenly noticed Lin Han, she was surprised. ¡®Lin Han actually came to find me?¡¯ She put on a sweet smile, then made fun of Lin Han. ¡°This is rare, you spend most of your time cultivating, why do you have time to come here?¡± Lin Han grinned. ¡°Is Uncle Ghost here? I need to ask for a favor.¡± They entered the residence together. At that moment, they did not know that Lin Gutian was standing on a wall, looking at them from a distance away. He watched coldly when Lin Ruyan smiled at Lin Han gorgeously. ¡°Lin Han, how dare you disobey me. You¡¯re courting death¡­¡± Lin Gutian¡¯s eyes were full of killing intent. ¡­ In the courtyard of Lin Ruyan¡¯s residence. ¡°What? Uncle Ghost left? He¡¯ll only return after one to two months?¡± Lin Han was disappointed. ¡°What exactly is it? Tell me, I might be able to help,¡± Lin Ruyan asked. When she heard that Lin Han was actually looking for Uncle Ghost, she was slightly disheartened. ¡°I need a powerful opponent to stimulate my potential, so that I can break through,¡± Lin Han explained with a bitter smile. ¡°A powerful opponent?¡± Lin Ruyan nodded as she pondered. ¡®Indeed. ¡®If one is at a bottleneck, a strong external pressure can possibly incite one¡¯s potential for one to breakthrough. ¡®But Uncle Ghost disappeared mysteriously, and he only mentioned that he¡¯ll return after a month or two.¡¯ She was troubled. ¡°Oh right.¡± All of a sudden, she recalled something, so she quickly mentioned, ¡°Lin Han, you can take part in Broken Sky City¡¯s Martial Arts Exchange.¡± ¡°Martial Arts Exchange?¡± Lin Han was intrigued. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lin Ruyan nodded, and continued, ¡°Half a month later, the ¡®Five Prides¡¯ of Broken Sky City will join hands to organize a Martial Arts Exchange for the younger generation in the city. Young powerhouses from the three great forces will be there, so you¡¯ll definitely find a suitable opponent.¡± She smiled brightly. ¡®All young powerhouses from Broken Sky City¡¯s three great forces? ¡®Martial Arts Exchange?¡¯ Lin Han was interested. It was exactly what he wanted. Normal opponents could no longer satisfy him, thus the fact that he could exchange blows with the young powerhouses from the city, especially the ¡°Five Broken Sky Prides¡±, boosted his fighting will. Lin Han believed that he would certainly gain a lot from battling or having conversations about cultivation with those young powerhouses, which would help him to advance his cultivation base. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll surely take a look.¡± He nodded happily. Subsequently, Lin Ruyan ¡°asked a favor¡± of Lin Han to practice with her as a reward for solving his problem. Of course, Lin Han did not reject her. Without her help, he could not have found out about the Martial Arts Exchange. ¡­ For the rest of the month, Lin Gutian often looked for Lin Ruyan, but was always denied entry. This made him more gloomy. Above all, Lin Ruyan rejected him, but practiced with Lin Han, which made him furious. There was a huge difference between the way she treated them. Nonetheless, Lin Gutian was glad that Lin Ruyan finally agreed to attend the Martial Arts Exchange with him. That being said, if he knew that she only agreed to go because of Lin Han, he would probably vomit blood. Another day passed. It was nighttime. There was a row of people who were fully prepared and gathered in front of Lin Clan Sect Residence. Among them, other than Lin Gutian and Lin Ruyan, there were also a few Inner Residence disciples with high rankings, including Lin Yu, Lin Cai, and Lin Jiao. This was because only the top five disciples in the Inner Residence deserved to participate in the Martial Arts Exchange. Of course, other people could attend too, but they could only observe from far. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Lin Han here yet?¡± Lin Ruyan was concerned. Broken Sky City¡¯s Martial Arts Exchange was about to take place soon, yet Lin Han was nowhere to be found. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lin Gutian waved his hand and was about to leave the residence with the group of people since he did not know that Lin Han was supposed to come. ¡°Wait!¡± Lin Ruyan suddenly called out. ¡°What is it?¡± Lin Gutian and the others were confused. ¡°Lin Han¡¯s joining too,¡± Lin Ruyan answered. ¡°Lin Han?¡± Lin Yu, Lin Cai, and Lin Jiao nodded. Being one of the top three disciples in the Inner Residence, he deserved to go. ¡°Lin Han¡¯s going too?¡± Lin Gutian was actually enraged, but he dare not express it in front of the others, thus he smiled ¡°gently¡±. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s being held back, let¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± A voice was heard before Lin Gutian finished his sentence. Lin Han walked over apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just arrived at the point of breaking through.¡± The others were shocked upon hearing that. They quickly sensed that Lin Han was already at the Intermediate state of sixth tier martial art. ¡°Tss!¡± A few of them gasped. ¡®How long has it been since the Martial Arts Tea Party? He broke through again?¡¯ They looked at Lin Han like he was a freak. Lin Gutian was the only one whose face turned dark while being surprised at the same time. Chapter 47 On the way to the center of Broken Sky City, Lin Gutian began teaching a few of the rules of the Martial Arts Exchange to the other disciples. After all, as one of the Five Prides of the city, he knew the rules very well. Lin Han had learned a lot from him. Broken Sky City was overseen by three powerful forces, which were Lin Clan Sect Residence, Shen Clan Sect Residence, and Governor¡¯s Residence, also known as the Luo Family. When Lin Gutian introduced the Luo family, Lin Han instantly recalled Luo Qingcheng, the beautiful lady he had met at Broken Sky Forest the other day. ¡°Brother Gutian, who are the other four prides of Broken Sky City?¡± Lin Ruyan suddenly asked. Lin Han was also eager to find out. On the other hand, Lin Cai and Lin Jiao looked at them strangely, but when they recalled that Lin Ruyan and Lin Han used to be Outer Residence disciples, their expressions eased slightly. Lin Gutian smiled. ¡°Younger Sister Ruyan, the Five Prides of Broken Sky City consist of myself, Shen Wuxia from the Shen Clan Sect Residence, Luo Tianyang and Luo Qingcheng from the Governor¡¯s Residence, the Luo family, as well as¡­¡± He had a fearful look on her face as he continued, ¡°As well as Su He, the best among Broken Sky City¡¯s Five Great Heavenly Prides, and even I consider myself inferior to him.¡± ¡®Su He?¡¯ Lin Han repeated the name in his head. A person whom Lin Gutian was afraid of, someone that was respected by the other four Heavenly Prides this Su He had to be someone extraordinary! Lin Han¡¯s interest in this mysterious person grew rapidly. ¡°Su He¡¯s very mysterious. He came from a small family, and was the son of a servant, yet he was able to rise up.¡± ¡°I heard that he has a terrifying talent, and he can comprehend any martial art at one glance.¡± Lin Yu, Lin Cai, and a few others began discussing among themselves. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll defeat him!¡± Lin Gutian had strong killing intent, and a threatening aura. Upon this, however, Lin Han kept quiet. He was more fixated on the Greatest Heavenly Pride who rose from a small family. This was because he had a very similar experience. He also rose from the bottom, and showcased his ability for the world to see. Needless to say, he rose later than Su He did, because he had already become a reputable person in Broken Sky City. At that moment, Lin Han was looking forward to the Martial Arts Exchange. ¡°Oh right, how did Luo Qingcheng become one of the Five Prides? I heard that she¡¯s the Governor¡¯s Residence eldest miss, but her cultivation base isn¡¯t very high?.¡± Lin Han suddenly asked. He remembered very clearly that she was only in fifth-tier martial art. ¡°That¡¯s because she¡¯s the most beautiful lady in Broken Sky City, and that she¡¯s the eldest miss of the Governor¡¯s Residence, which is the strongest power base among the four sects!¡± Lin Yu replied enviously. ¡°Huh, that counts too?¡± Lin Han was speechless. ¡­ The Inner Residence Genius Disciples traveled quickly. Soon, they arrived at a mountain villa in Broken Sky City. Broken Sky Mountain Villa was the most honorable place in the city. A number of people had already arrived. There were people from the three great sects, as well as people from smaller families. Lin Gutian led them to a pavilion within the mountain villa. In the pavilion. Lin Han sensed strong auras when he took a glance around. The young disciples who were present were at least in fifth-tier martial arts. However, he was disappointed because he did not sense any Spirit Masters. This meant that there was no Spirit Master among the younger generation in Broken Sky City. Lin Han arrived at that conclusion because the young disciples in the pavilion were the top representatives of the city and the areas around it. The pavilion was a spacious one with a gargantuan combat arena in the middle. Being the three great sects, those from Lin Clan Sect Residence, Shen Clan Sect Residence, and Governor¡¯s Residence were seated in the middle. Around them were a number of scattered cultivators and disciples from small families who were there to observe. Lin Han noticed Lin Tian, Lin Yan, and a few others in the crowd. It seemed like they had arrived long ago to watch the event. Subsequently, Lin Gutian brought Lin Ruyan and the others to their seats. When he saw Lin Ruyan sitting beside Lin Han, he frowned and glared at Lin Han as though he was giving him a warning. Nevertheless, Lin Han decided to ignore him. Since he was already at the Intermediate state of sixth tier martial art, and he possessed powerful techniques, he was not afraid of Lin Gutian who had the cultivation base of Half-Grandmaster Boundary. ¡°Look, that¡¯s Shen Wuxia, Shen Clan Sect Residence¡¯s greatest genius, and one of Broken Sky City¡¯s Five Prides. Everyone calls him Young Master Wuxia, he¡¯s also a half-step away from Grandmaster!¡± Someone who was evidently in awe of Shen Wuxia mentioned. Lin Han noticed a few young disciples when he looked at the seats reserved for the Shen Clan Sect Residence. The person who actually attracted his attention was a young man in white robes. He had a calm expression on his face, and was fanning a folding fan like a gentleman. ¡°Look, Luo Qingcheng, the most beautiful lady in Broken Sky City, is here,¡± Someone else exclaimed. When Lin Han turned to look, he saw Luo Qingcheng enter the pavilion gracefully. Although she was titled the most beautiful lady in the city, Lin Han felt that Lin Ruyan was not at all inferior to her. One was stunning, whereas the other one was natural and elegant. They were beautiful in their own ways. ¡°Lin Han, who¡¯s more pretty, me or Luo Qingcheng?¡± Lin Ruyan suddenly asked. Lin Han twitched his mouth when he heard her. ¡®I guessed it right, I knew she was going to ask me that.¡¯ ¡°Of course¡­ Both of you are equally pretty.¡± Lin Han laughed out loud, then took a sip of his tea. ¡°If you had to choose, who would you choose?¡± Lin Ruyan asked again. ¡°Pfft¡± Tea jetted out of Lin Han¡¯s mouth. ¡­ The atmosphere became livelier as more people filled the place. Many of them were guessing if there would be a change within the rankings of the Five Great Heavenly Prides, or if their places would be taken over by someone else. On the other hand, Lin Han found out about a few people through the discussions around him. For instance, Luo Tianyang, the greatest genius from Governor¡¯s Residence, was a black-clothed man with a cold look. Lin Han noticed a faint smile on Luo Qingcheng¡¯s face. She had been glancing over repeatedly, intentionally or unintentionally, and he knew that she noticed him. Nonetheless, it seemed like nobody from the Governor¡¯s Residence knew that he was the one who killed Luo Feiyu and Luo Feiyun, two geniuses from their family. Had they known, they would have sent powerhouses to hold him captive. ¡®A Spirit Master¡¯s strange trick is indeed a good killing weapon.¡¯ Lin Han thought to himself. He had previously used his spirit to kill Luo Feiyun, and he believed that the Governor¡¯s Residence would never be able to find the murderer. Right then. Tap, tap! Light footsteps were heard coming from outside the pavilion. The footsteps were not loud, but were strangely clear to everyone inside. Lin Han immediately noticed that the person who arrived was not a regular person. ¡°Su He!¡± Before long, someone from the crowd uttered the man¡¯s name. Shortly after, a person entered the pavilion slowly. It was a young man who wore a shirt made of sackcloth. He had an extremely common face, and a very normal aura. Nothing about him stood out. He seemed so ordinary because there was nothing special about him, but it was the exact reason that made everyone feel that he was unordinary. Su He! The Greatest Heavenly Pride within the Five Great Heavenly Prides, and a legendary figure among the younger generation in Broken Sky City. He finally arrived. Chapter 48 ¡°Su He, I¡¯ve been waiting for you!¡± All of a sudden, Lin Gutian stood up with a strong will to fight. He stared at Su He excitedly. During the previous exchange, he was defeated by the mysteriously powerful Su He, thus he was eager to challenge him again a year later. ¡°The Martial Arts Exchange hasn¡¯t officially begun yet,¡± Su He mentioned calmly. He looked at Lin Gutian with eyes that made him look like he experienced great changes in life, then shook his head with a smile. ¡°Lin Gutian, you¡¯re not my match, and I can say that nobody here¡¯s a match for me this year.¡± Su He sounded extremely composed as if he were merely stating a fact. Strangely enough, his presumptuous words did not cause anyone in the crowd to be enraged. In fact, Lin Gutian only looked slightly embarrassed. He neither looked mad nor like he felt belittled. This included the other Heavenly Prides too, whereby Luo Tianyang from Governor¡¯s Residence and Shen Wuxia from Shen Clan Sect Residence only furrowed their brows without saying a word. Lin Han was quite surprised. Su He was indeed the Greatest Heavenly Pride in Broken Sky City. His words might as well be the law to the younger generation of masters. ¡°Eh?¡± When he looked away from Lin Gutian, then glanced at someone else from Lin Clan Sect Residence His eyes sparkled, and suddenly a strong will to fight ignited from within. ¡°I take back my words, perhaps someone is indeed my match this year,¡± Su He mentioned. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Who is it? Who is it that?¡± A number of young masters looked where Su He was looking, and fixed their gaze on a green-robed figure among the people from Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°It¡¯s him?¡± Luo Qingcheng was surprised. ¡°Su He actually values that guy?¡± Lin Gutian looked horrible. On the other hand, Lin Han, who was drinking tea, was slightly shocked. ¡®He¡¯s actually looking at me.¡¯ He squinted his eyes, then used his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye to probe into Su He¡¯s background. The result left him dumbfounded. His mighty Spirit Master Heavenly Eye could only sense that Su He was a half-step from the Grandmaster Boundary. He could not sense his aura, the attribute of his True Elements, the route of his techniques, and so on. It was as if Su He was enveloped in a layer of dense fog. He was mysterious, and powerful. For the first time, Lin Han encountered someone whom he could not use his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye to see through. ¡°Interesting.¡± He chuckled. The pavilion was filled with discussions. ¡°Who¡¯s that green-robed young man? Why have I never seen him before?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a new rising star in Lin Clan Sect Residence, one of the top three disciples in the Inner Residence. You¡¯ve never heard of him?¡± ¡°I heard that Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s Outer Residence has a new genius disciple, is that him? I think his name is Lin Han.¡± The crowd talked about him. Who was Su He? Su He was a legendary person who had the most power among the younger generation in Broken Sky City. If he mentioned that someone would be a match for him, he definitely meant it. As such, many people subconsciously thought highly of Lin Han. Lin Ruyan, Lin Yu, and the others from Lin Clan Sect Residence were extremely surprised. They did not expect Lin Han to disguise his cultivation so well, and were stunned that he was even recognized by the Greatest Heavenly Pride. Lin Gutian froze at where he stood. His face took on a ghastly expression because not only did Su He not bother about him when he asked for a challenge, but stated that he would contend with another person from Lin Clan Sect Residence. Lin Gutian looked at Lin Han with a dark expression. ¡°Alright, leave the Heavenly Pride Level battles for the last.¡± Luo Qingcheng suddenly stood up. Being the most beautiful lady in Broken Sky City, the eldest miss of the Governor¡¯s Residence, and one of the Five Prides, she naturally had a powerful speaking right. Following that, Su He also felt that it was inappropriate for him to challenge Lin Han so soon, so he smiled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you, Eldest Miss Qingcheng.¡± He looked at Lin Han again, then walked over to the Su family disciples. ¡°This is going to be a good show¡­¡± Many people were as thrilled as if they smelled gunpowder. They were also very interested in Lin Han. The Five Heavenly Prides of Broken Sky City had remained for many years. Would there be a miracle this year? Would someone new break the mold? Subsequently, the Martial Arts Exchange began. Starting from weaker young disciples, one could either challenge a Warrior of the same level or exchange blows with a stronger master. As for the Five Great Heavenly Prides, they would fight last. Therefore, there were only disciples with weaker cultivation bases in the beginning. ¡°I¡¯m going to present Shen Clan Sect Residence¡¯s Thirteen Lone Peak Steps, a high-grade sword martial art.¡± A young disciple dressed in white robes, who had the cultivation base of fifth tier martial arts, walked to the center of the practice stage. He pulled a three-foot-long sword out of his scabbard and began wielding it. His sword technique was sharp, and sword-lights filled the air. When one performed the Thirteen Lone Peak Steps, one would feel like one was standing on a lone peak, and was changing the wind and the clouds with one¡¯s sword. Lin Han was secretly deriving the white-clothed disciples¡¯ sword technique through his Golden Spirit Fire, so as to incorporate it in his sword technique. Since he had a strong ability to discern the inner workings of martial arts, the Martial Arts Exchange was the perfect opportunity for him to ¡°secretly learn¡± martial arts without any limit. Perhaps other people could get some insight from that sword technique, but Lin Han could imprint the whole technique on his mind by using the Golden Spirit Fire. He learned it right away, and could even comprehend it well. Young disciples went up the stage one after another. Some went up to perform, while some exchanged blows with others. Those who went on stage were genius disciples from different great powers, thus their martial arts were essential martial arts from their respective clans. Lin Han observed quietly throughout the process with an expressionless face. Deep down, he was actually elated as he imprinted dozens of different martial arts like a madman. ¡°Shooting Star Finger Technique¡­¡± ¡°Nine Sudden Thunder Swords¡­¡± ¡°Thirteen Flowing Cloud Pikes¡­¡± ¡­ Lin Han derived palm techniques, fist techniques, leg techniques, body techniques, defensive martial arts, sword techniques, blade techniques, and even rare disguise martial arts. Even though there were some martial arts that he did not need, he depicted all of them in his mind. This was because these martial art paths were connected. If he could comprehend all of them, he could extract their essence to incorporate them into his own martial arts. It would certainly elevate his power, and he could even create a unique, powerful martial art for himself. Lin Han had not gone on stage yet as he had been observing quietly. On the opposite side, Lin Yu, Lin Cai, Lin Jiao, and the others had gone up for battles. The Martial Arts Exchange was a platform for them to improve themselves, thus they were not stingy about using their strength. Additionally, after every battle, the Five Great Heavenly Prides would give a few pointers to the disciples who were involved, which was very beneficial. As time passed, the disciples who went on stage were the stronger ones. ¡°My name is Shen Yu from the Shen family.¡± A tall and burly young man went onto the practice stage. He gave fist salutes to the crowd, then looked at Lin Han before he called out to him, ¡°Brother Lin, would you care to have a battle with me?¡± Chapter 49 Lin Han was already recognized by Su He in the beginning, thus many people were very interested in him. However, they were also somewhat fearful of him, hence nobody dared to challenge him. Finally, Shen Yu from Shen Clan Sect Residence asked him for a challenge. ¡°Shen Yu¡¯s a young master who¡¯s second to Young Master Wuxia, Shen Wuxia. He¡¯s at the peak of sixth tier martial arts.¡± ¡°He cultivates Solid Rock Body Strengthening Technique, a powerful body tempering technique, allowing his body to be as firm as iron-rock, and an attack from his fist or his palm carry the force of a thousand pounds!¡± ¡°Lin Han¡¯s in sixth tier martial art too, but he hasn¡¯t gone on stage yet. I wonder if he¡¯s just mystifying himself, or if he¡¯s disguising his real strength.¡± A number of young disciples discussed softly and were dubious of Lin Han. ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Han smiled upon being challenged by Shen Yu, then walked up the stage with his rusty sword. ¡°Vigorous Solid Rock Fist!¡± Without further ado, Shen Yu performed a powerful martial art. Vigorous Solid Rock Fist was an extremely famous high-grade martial art in the Shen Clan Sect Residence. The force it generated sent shockwaves when Shen Yu punched with his fist. ¡°Moving Dragon Palm!¡± Lin Han yelled, then attacked with his palm. ¡°What? Moving Dragon Palm?¡± ¡°Is Lin Han insulting Shen Yu? He¡¯s using a low-grade martial art against him!¡± ¡°He¡¯s courting death!¡± Many people ridiculed and sneered at Lin Han. ¡°Moving Dragon Palm? Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s fundamental martial art?¡± Upon noticing it, Shen Yu was instantly enraged. ¡°You¡¯re insulting me!? Die!¡± Boom! When the fist and the palm clashed and resulted in a big explosion. ¡°Ah!¡± Next, accompanied by a painful shriek, a burly figure was thrown into the air before falling to the ground. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Shen Yu was sent flying away by a palm?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s an extremely poor low-grade martial art!¡± The crowd was at a daze when they saw that Lin Han had not moved an inch from his position. ¡®That was fierce!¡¯ ¡®His body is so tyrannical!¡¯ ¡®What frightening explosiveness!¡¯ Right then, they wondered if Lin Han was also a body-tempering warrior. Nonetheless, according to what they heard from Lin Clan Sect Residence, they knew that he had a profound level of attainment in his sword techniques. On the other hand, Lin Han was not feeling proud after defeating Shen Yu. Firstly, Shen Yu underestimated his opponent as soon as he went on stage, and did not attack properly due to his anger. Secondly, while Lin Han and Shen Yu were both in sixth tier martial arts, Lin Han cultivated the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor and possessed rich Dragon Power True Elements, thus he was certainly comparable with someone a half-step from the Grandmaster Boundary. Thirdly, although Shen Yu was a body-tempering Warrior, Lin Han¡¯s body was also exceptionally strong and was far beyond an ordinary Warrior¡¯s. Had Lin Han activated his Dragon Emperor Combat Body earlier to increase his combat power by three times, Shen Yu¡¯s arm would have been crushed instantly. Nevertheless, Lin Han did not plan to exert his full strength, lest he exposed his trump cards too early. ¡°You win¡­¡± Shen Yu stood up and smiled bitterly as he wiped his blood off the corner of his mouth. ¡°You let me win, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lin Han saluted him with his fists, then left the stage calmly. Though he only made one attack, the low-grade martial art, Moving Dragon Palm, the crowd was awed by its mightiness. ¡°Lin Han, I didn¡¯t expect you to have so much power,¡± Lin Ruyan commented with a smile the moment Lin Han returned to his seat. She heard from Uncle Ghost that Spirit Masters who cultivated spiritual power had very weak physical forces, but that did not apply to Lin Han. ¡°Interesting.¡± Not far away, Luo Tianyang, the Greatest Disciple of Governor¡¯s Residence, was surprised after watching the performance. When Shen Yu returned to his seat with a dispirited look, Shen Wuxia gave him a pat on his back. ¡°Lin Han¡¯s very powerful, and his combat power might be comparable with the Five Broken Sky Prides, you didn¡¯t lose terribly.¡± The other disciples from Shen Clan Sect Residence were stunned when they heard him. ¡®Is that rising talent from Lin Clan Sect Residence so powerful?¡¯ The atmosphere became livelier after Lin Han defeated Shen Yu, the Second Genius in Shen Clan Sect Residence, with one hit. Following that, dark horses hidden in the different sects went on stage to challenge the Heavenly Prides of the older generation. Clearly, the ¡°dark horses¡± were not as lucky as Lin Han. Some of them could not defeat geniuses who were a rank lower than the Five Great Heavenly Prides, let alone the Five themselves. As such, people started looking at Lin Han and realized that this rising talent was truly a force to be reckoned with. He did not defeat Shen Yu because of luck. For the first time, Lin Gutian also looked at Lin Han fearfully. It would have been tricky for him to defeat a body-tempering Warrior like Shen Yu, yet Lin Han took him down in one move. Lin Gutian instantly felt a rising sense of uncontrollable panic. ¡°You¡¯re just a petty subdivision disciple, you don¡¯t deserve to snatch everything away from me¡­¡± Seeing that Lin Ruyan was happily talking to Lin Han at that moment, he was further steeped in his envy and anger. Subsequently, Lin Yu, Lin Cai, and a few others went on stage again. The Martial Arts Exchange was becoming more intense. ¡°Lin Han from Lin Clan Sect Residence, may I challenge you?¡± Without warning, an unusually gentle voice was heard. The crowd fell silent when they heard Lin Han¡¯s name. ¡°He¡¯s Luo Hongjun, a genius from the Governor¡¯s Residence!¡± ¡°I heard that his body technique is ranked second in Broken Sky City, which is second to Young Master Wuxia.¡± As the crowd discussed, some guessed why he asked to challenge Lin Han. Luo Hongjun probably thought that Lin Han¡¯s weakness was his speed since he had a tyrannical body, thus he wanted to match Lin Han with his amazing body technique. ¡°That¡¯s a good plan!¡± A lot of people were eager to watch the match. ¡®Oh right, Lin Han has a strong body, so his speed is surely his weakness.¡¯ ¡®If Lin Han can¡¯t even touch Luo Hongjun throughout their battle, he will end up being defeated after consuming all his energy.¡¯ ¡°Hmph, Luo Hongjun really planned well, but it¡¯s good that he teaches this fella a lesson, so he¡¯s aware of where he stands.¡± Lin Gutian sneered. Although Luo Hongjun¡¯s combat power was not the best, his body technique was definitely one of the most remarkable ones in the city. ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Han nodded, then went up the stage. He wanted to try Soaring Flight, his new body technique. On the practice stage. Luo Hongjun who wore a black outfit had a long body, and seemed to be very quick-witted. Lin Han quickly sensed a hint of wind energy around him. ¡®Looks like he cultivates a technique with the wind attribute. In terms of speed, he has a huge advantage.¡¯ Lin Han analyzed. He was also aware of Luo Hongjun¡¯s plan. ¡®Are you planning to pit speed against me?¡¯ Lin Han smirked. He was confident. ¡°Traceless Fluttering Swan!¡± Luo Hongjun seemed to have turned into a phantom the moment he charged toward Lin Han. He was faster than the human eye could follow. ¡°He¡¯s become more brilliant in his body technique,¡± Luo Tianyang from the Governor¡¯s Residence remarked. Many people from the crowd were struck dumb. ¡°Traceless Fluttering Swan! I didn¡¯t expect Luo Hongjun to perform a half top-grade martial art so soon, Lin Han¡¯s going to be dazzled.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even tell where Luo Hongjun is!¡± A few of them exclaimed. On the contrary, Lin Han stood there calmly as though he was somehow relaxed. ¡°He¡¯s deliberately mystifying himself.¡± Lin Gutian scorned. Su He, the Greatest Heavenly Pride, was unusually confident about Lin Han. On the practice stage. ¡°Lin Han, I¡¯ll get your *ss of the stage!¡± A yell was suddenly heard. While the afterimages of Luo Hongjun were seen drifting toward Lin Han, he suddenly materialized behind him. He was seen smiling proudly as he launched a hit with his fist. ¡°Is Lin Han going to be defeated!¡± Someone shouted. Hu! Luo Hongjun¡¯s eyes were cold when he hit ¡°Lin Han¡¯s¡± back, but he quickly realized that it, too, was only an afterimage. ¡°An afterimage?!¡± The audience was stupefied. It turned out that ¡°Lin Han¡± who had been standing there was just an afterimage. ¡®Where is his real body then?¡¯ Luo Hongjun¡¯s plan failed at that moment, and he had a terrible look on his face. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± A voice was suddenly heard coming from mid-air. ¡®In the air?¡¯ Everyone quickly looked upwards. They were utterly shocked. In the air, a green-robed youth was gliding in the air like an honorable emperor, and was looking down at Luo Hongjun. Chapter 50 ¡®Impossible!¡¯ The first thing that everyone thought when they saw Lin Han taking steps in mid-air to fly was that it was impossible. They quickly noticed two True Element forces beneath his feet supporting his flight. ¡®It¡¯s a martial art!¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s at least a top-grade martial art!¡¯ It was natural for the geniuses from different forces to have good judgment, so they immediately identified the source. However, they were utterly shocked. Even the Five Great Heavenly Prides were moved. ¡®Lin Han actually cultivated such an unbelievable body martial art.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s already gliding in the air before being in Grandmaster Boundary?¡¯ ¡°Soaring Flight is a top-grade martial art from Lin Clan Sect Residence. It was once performed by an elder from the sect, but he could only glide for fifteen minutes in the air even after tens of years, yet you¡¯re flying for such a long time. Lin Han, you really didn¡¯t disappoint me!¡± Su He stood up all of a sudden with a strong fighting will. ¡°You¡¯ve definitely comprehended this top-grade martial art to Super Pinnacle state!¡± Upon hearing him, the crowd went from being shocked to being horrified. It was said that top-grade martial arts had an apprehension state called the Super Pinnacle state, but many people thought that it was just a legend. Seeing Lin Han flying in the air on the practice stage, countless Broken Sky City disciples were in disbelief. They had witnessed a myth materialize in front of them. It was a legendary moment and it was from a rising star. At the spur of the moment, many of them looked at Lin Han fervently. He might change the structure of Broken Sky City¡¯s Five Heavenly Prides this year by being the Sixth Heavenly Pride! A dark horse indeed! At that moment, a hint of seriousness could even be seen on Luo Qingcheng¡¯s charming face. If she previously had only admiration for Lin Han during their encounter in Broken Sky Forest, she was beginning to value him now, so much so that she had half a mind to rope him into the Governor¡¯s Residence. In fact, any of the great forces would cherish a young Heavenly Pride like him and would pursue him like a flock of ducks. ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡±Read more chapters at Listnovel.com Luo Hongjun smiled bitterly when he saw Lin Han flying in mid-air, and he cupped his hands at him. He was completely defeated by Lin Han in terms of body technique and was sincerely convinced that he deserved the loss. In a flash, when everyone else looked at Lin Han again, they could not spot any weakness he had. He was like a flawless, versatile genius in martial art. This was what made him fearsome. A Warrior who was powerful in one aspect was not terrifying, instead, an all-rounder was much more threatening. Lin Han had clearly been recognized as the latter. Many geniuses began regarding him as being equally matched with the five old Heavenly Prides. Once again, Lin Han lifted the atmosphere at the Martial Arts Exchange to a greater height. On the contrary, Lin Gutian was extremely gloomy. He was the leader of Lin Clan Sect Residence, but Lin Han was the one getting the spotlight, thus he was very frustrated. Therefore, he stood up while gritting his teeth, then shot a look at someone from the Su family. ¡°Su He, I want to challenge you!¡± Finally, Lin Gutian made a move as he could not stand it any longer. He could not let Lin Han be in the limelight forever. The moment Lin Gutian stood up, he received a lot of attention since he was a Heavenly Pride himself. It made him feel good. On the other hand, Lin Han simply returned to his seat and conversed with Lin Ruyan happily. When Lin Gutian turned to look, he noticed Lin Ruyan being so focused on Lin Han that she did not even look at him when he asked to challenge Su He. The difference in the treatment they received made him furious, as though a fire was burning his body. ¡°I¡¯ll challenge you. Brother Su He can¡¯t be challenged by just anyone!¡± A Su family disciple at the peak of sixth tier martial art suddenly stood up, then sneered at Lin Gutian. ¡°Vigorous Dragon-Elephant Leg!¡± The Su family disciple was extremely powerful and was considered just below the Heavenly Pride Level. His legs were like iron whips when he kicked. The air cracked as he swung his legs. ¡°You¡¯re not worthy!¡± Lin Gutian scowled, then swung his hand at him. An enormous force instantly gathered in the air, forming a giant invisible hand that slapped the Su family disciple away. ¡®He sent a Warrior at the peak of sixth tier martial art flying away with one slap?¡¯ The spectators were moved. As expected, the combat power of a Heavenly Pride Level figure in Broken Sky City was frightening, and could not be defied by normal people. At the seating area for the Lin Clan disciples, Lin Han¡¯s face was grave after he witnessed the might of a casual hit from Lin Gutian. ¡®Lin Gutian¡¯s very powerful indeed, he has a well-deserved reputation. ¡®Based on his aura earlier, he¡¯s half a step from the Grandmaster Boundary.¡¯ Lin Han secretly made a comparison and realized that Lin Gutian was probably above the white-eyebrowed old man who pressured him at the Martial Arts Tea Party. As such, he no longer underestimated Lin Gutian. He began comprehending the hundreds of martial arts that were imprinted in his mind through the Golden Spirit Fire. He did not want to waste time. Nonetheless, while Lin Han was wary of Lin Gutian¡¯s formidable combat power, he was not fearful of it. Compared to how he was at the Martial Arts Tea Party, he knew that he had advanced by leaps and bounds. Whether it was the top-grade martial arts that he cultivated, or the increase in power of Killing Eye, his Spirit Master trick, they all boosted his confidence. He was confident about battling the Five Great Heavenly Prides of Broken Sky City. Nevertheless, he remained straight-faced as he observed the movements in the arena quietly, because he wanted to take a better look at Lin Gutian and Su He¡¯s tricks. With the Spirit Master Heavenly Eye, Lin Han could understand information that could not be understood by ordinary people. Those pieces of information usually helped him to win. On the practice stage. Lin Gutian was expressionless after defeating the strong Su family disciple. He stared at the young man in a sackcloth shirt who had been watching the battle from his seat. ¡°Alright, I accept your challenge,¡± Su He mentioned. He stood up, then took steady steps up the practice stage. Tap, tap, tap¡­ His footsteps seemed to have peculiar magic that caused Lin Gutian to break out in a cold sweat. ¡®It¡¯s this feeling again!¡¯ Lin Gutian¡¯s eyes were filled with endless fear when he looked at the young man who was approaching him. Off the stage, Lin Han was stunned. He noticed that Su He¡¯s footsteps seemed to be gathering a sense of inexplicable momentum. A violent, invisible force began condensing around his body, which slowly oppressed Lin Gutian¡¯s body and his mind. ¡°He¡¯s building Ascendance! It¡¯s a type of power that controls the environment!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes instantly glowed as he recalled a record from an ancient book upon seeing Su He¡¯s performance. According to the record, a Warrior who reached a certain level could exert pressure toward his or her opponent just through speech and action. The pressure could be put on one¡¯s body or mind. It had a similar function to Lin Han¡¯s Killing Eye, but was done via a different approach. That being said, the oppression from that momentum was only limited to one¡¯s body and mind, and it could not get to one¡¯s soul. Despite that, it was enough to shock Lin Han. ¡®At such a young age, and only being half a step from Grandmaster Boundary, Su He already knows how to build Ascendance?¡¯ Based on what was recorded in ancient books, even a Martial Grandmaster at the peak of ninth tier martial art could not control the power of Heaven and Earth for personal usage. Lin Han secretly raised his guard against Su He, the Greatest Heavenly Pride. The young man in an outfit made of sackcloth seemed ordinary, but he definitely possessed a big secret that was unknown to all. For all that, Lin Han was also quite delighted. Through the Golden Spirit Fire in his head, he could secretly derive Su He¡¯s movements, bearing, and even his breathing rhythm, thus he began comprehending them. Lin Han was excited because he might be able to ¡°learn¡± an extraordinary martial art. Chapter 51 Just as Lin Han was secretly elated about deriving Su He¡¯s trick of ¡°building Ascendance¡±, the momentum on the practice stage arrived at a peak. Especially for Lin Gutian, vague dragon roars could be heard around his body. By taking a closer look, one could see his True Elements emerging out of his body, and the force from them formed a coiling dragon and a ferocious tiger outside. His cultivation base was almost at the real Grandmaster Boundary! Countless people were struck dumb, because Lin Gutian truly deserved his title as one of the Five Great Heavenly Prides for having such a formidable cultivation base. On the other hand, Su He appeared to be exceptionally ordinary, and had a calm aura around. He was not unrestrained like Lin Han, or overbearing like Lin Gutian. He gave an otherworldly, enigmatic feeling. When the combat power of the two Heavenly Pride Level figures clashed, the atmosphere rose to a more fiery height, and the crowd watched with great anticipation. Su He stepped onto the practice stage. He looked at Lin Gutian who was already drenched in a cold sweat, then mentioned calmly, ¡°One move.¡± ¡®One move!¡¯ ¡®The same words again?¡¯ Many people off the stage recalled the familiar scene from last year, and were utterly shocked. ¡°One move?¡± Lin Han was shocked. ¡®Su He and Lin Gutian are both a half step from the Grandmaster Boundary, is he so confident about defeating Lin Gutian with one move?¡¯ ¡°The same thing happened last year. Though the two of them are in the same boundary, Su He defeated Brother Gutian in one move,¡± Lin Cai explained to Lin Han. ¡®He defeated Lin Gutian with one move?¡¯ Lin Han finally found it strange. ¡®Is Su He that powerful?¡¯ ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not just Brother Gutian,¡± Lin Yu, the young lady who was ranked second in the Inner Residence spoke too, ¡°Last year, Su He rose to be so powerful that he defeated Brother Gutian, Shen Wuxia, and Luo Tianyang with one move. Nobody was able to withstand even one move from him¡­¡± Nobody was able to withstand even one move from Su He! It became a law among the younger generation in Broken Sky City. At that moment, Su He reproduced the familiar scene from last year. By saying the same words, the atmosphere in the arena became extremely heated. ¡°Su He!¡± ¡°Su He!¡± Many people from the crowd cheered fervently. Upon seeing this, Lin Han nodded to himself. ¡®Looks like Su He¡¯s prestige is unparalleled to the disciples of the younger generation.¡¯ ¡°One move¡­¡± With a ghastly look on his face, Lin Gutian wiped his sweat away from his forehead. He was filled with strong fighting will as he shouted, ¡°Su He, a year¡¯s time can change many things, and I don¡¯t believe that I won¡¯t last a single move from you!¡± ¡°Boom¡± A threatening aura was released from Lin Gutian¡¯s body, and the roars of a tiger and a dragon echoed in the arena. Tap! While charging at Su He, Lin Gutian formed a dragon and a tiger in the air using his hands, which seemed so terrifying as though they could break through everything. He seemed like an iron-blooded warrior on a battlefield, and he advanced courageously like the howling wind and a surging wave. Dragon-Tiger Celestial Seal! Lin Gutian actually attacked with his strongest trump card ¡ª a damaged natural martial art. ¡°Bang!¡± However, at the next instant, everyone saw Su He swinging his right palm down lightly. Bzz! The arena fell dead silent. Lin Gutian¡¯s violent aura was a torrential rain obstructed by a thousand-foot-tall mountain. His ferocious attack was dispelled easily. Following that, a palm pressed Lin Gutian¡¯s chest, releasing an indescribable force that threw him into the air. ¡°Cough!¡± Lin Gutian spat blood in the air. His momentum was crushed, and his face turned pale. ¡°That¡¯s¡­!¡± Not far away, Lin Han was dumbfounded. He instantly connected with his Golden Spirit Fire to derive the path of Su He¡¯s palm in the air earlier. Perhaps nobody noticed that instant, but Lin Han kneww what happened due to his incredible perception. Su He¡¯s seemingly light palm-attack actually had behind it a kind of ¡°force¡± that could not be fathomed by normal people. Similar to his stepping rhythm, he triggered the power of Heaven and Earth. For every move Su He made, he used that power to ¡°build Ascendance¡±! Lin Han was shocked the moment he realized. The things that were done by Su He were far beyond Lin Han¡¯s understanding of ordinary martial arts. Therefore, he gathered his focus, and used the Golden Spirit Fire to imprint Su He¡¯s attack on his mind in a detailed manner. If he could learn it, it would certainly be a great trump card for him. Before long, the crowd in the arena was in high spirits. One move! Sure enough, Su He did it in one move! It was such a similar scene to the one last year. A year ago, Su He defeated everyone the same way, and became the top of Broken Sky City¡¯s Heavenly Prides as he was unstoppable. On the practice stage, he stood with his hands behind his back, and appeared like a star as if he was a Grandmaster. Nonetheless, nobody noticed at that moment that two mysterious figures were hiding in a dark corner on a beam above the practice, and were observing the battle between the geniuses. They were two young men in fire-colored armor with profound auras, which made them look like two red ghosts in the dark. ¡°The young man whose name is Su He is merely in the half-step Grandmaster Boundary, yet he can use Heaven and Earth Power for his own. Especially the rhythm of his palm attack earlier, even I can¡¯t see through its mystery. Judging from his talent and qualities, he¡¯ll definitely be one of the top young geniuses in the thirteen cities ruled by His Royal Highness!¡± One of the men mentioned. ¡°Su He deserves the attention indeed, but the other young man, Lin Han, is extremely gifted too. Didn¡¯t you notice that the martial arts he performed are all comprehended to the highest state? On top of that, he can fly in the air when he¡¯s only in sixth tier martial arts, which is something that we can only do in Grandmaster Boundary. It¡¯s unbelievable,¡± The other man exclaimed. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a small city like Broken Sky City to produce two top-notch geniuses. We must report to King Chiyang, His Royal Highness loves young geniuses like them¡­¡± His voice slowly faded, and the two figures eventually disappeared. ¡­ Near the practice stage, on a seat among the Lin Clan Sect Residence disciples. ¡°What is it?¡± Lin Ruyan asked when he noticed Lin Han looking up to the top of the pavilion. ¡°Nothing.¡± Lin Han shook his head and looked away, but wondered. ¡®I sensed an unusual aura, was it just an illusion¡­?¡± ¡­ In a dense forest outside Broken Sky Mountain Villa, the two young men in red armor from before appeared. ¡°That was close, that fella¡¯s perception is terrifying, we almost got spotted,¡± One of them mentioned while catching his breath. ¡°Indeed, it looks like we underestimated him.¡± The other man chuckled, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Both of them are top-notch geniuses, we have to inform the Imperial Residence of Chiyang of their existence.¡± Subsequently, they soared into the sky like eagles, and glided with the help of wind energy. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared from the night sky. The two men were Grandmasters! ¡­ In the pavilion at Broken Sky Mountain Villa. On the practice stage, Lin Gutian broke out in cold sweat. ¡®I! ¡®I was defeated by Su He in one move again?¡¯ His expression was terribly dark. Next, with eyes full of hatred, he stood back up to look at the young man in the sackcloth shirt. ¡°Su He, didn¡¯t you say that Lin Han from Lin Clan Sect Residence is your match?¡± He then turned to look at Lin Han. ¡°Lin Han, I don¡¯t believe that you¡¯re that strong. Challenge Su He on the stage!¡± As soon as Lin Gutian finished, the genius disciples from various forces were startled. ¡®After being defeated, Lin Gutian¡¯s trying to drag Lin Han from his clan into the mire?¡¯ Chapter 52 ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lin Han? Afraid?¡± Lin Gutian curled his lips. ¡°Why would I be afraid?¡± Lin Han stood up and smirked. ¡°But since you¡¯d like to witness my strength, Brother Gutian, let¡¯s make a wager.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the wager?¡± ¡°If I can defeat Su He,¡± Lin Han replied. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®If he can defeat Su He?¡¯ Upon hearing those words, it was not only Lin Gutian but many of the young geniuses who were initially in awe of Lin Han that sneered. ¡®Do you have any inkling of who Su He is?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s the epitome of invincibility to all these young geniuses in Broken Sky City. He¡¯s a legend!¡¯ ¡®Did Lin Han just say that he can defeat him?¡¯ ¡°Even Lin Gutian, one of the Heavenly Prides, was defeated in one move. Who are you to say something like that?¡± Many people from the crowd looked at Lin Han doubtfully and disdainfully. ¡°Lin Han¡¯s pretty good, but he¡¯s too presumptuous.¡± Among the disciples from the Governor¡¯s Residence, Luo Tianyang looked at Lin Han coldly. On the other hand, Luo Qingcheng, who was beside him, stayed silent. She regarded Lin Han and Su He as the same kind of people; both unpredictable, unparalleled geniuses, each having secrets of their own. After all, she knew that Lin Han could go against a ferocious dragon-tiger beast by himself when he was only in fourth-tier martial arts. ¡°Alright, I accept your deal!¡± Lin Gutian scoffed, then looked around him. ¡°The audience will be our witnesses.¡± Subsequently, he retrieved a dazzling multicolored, translucent stone. ¡°A top-grade spirit stone!¡± Someone who sensed the rich spirit energy released from the stone exclaimed. Spirit stones were categorized into low-grade, medium-grade, high-grade, and the extremely rare top-grade. A top-grade spirit stone was definitely worth thousands of taels gold, and the power it contained allowed one to advance to a new martial art boundary if one absorbed the power completely. Furthermore, its spiritual power was so clean that it would not have any side effects for its consumer if it was absorbed. The spirit stone was more precious than a rare medicinal pill like the Element Breakthrough Pill. ¡°A top-grade spirit stone!¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes glowed. He happened to be worrying about breaking through his cultivation base. If he could acquire the top-grade spirit stone, he would certainly advance to the Five Great Heavenly Pride¡¯s level. ¡°This top-grade spirit stone is my wager!¡± Lin Gutian uttered. He found the stone from a historical site long ago, but had not used it because he planned to use it when he was near the Grandmaster Boundary, to help him advance fully into a Grandmaster. He believed that the top-grade spirit stone would attract Lin Han. As expected, Lin Han was moved, thus Lin Gutian was pleased. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s your bet?¡± ¡°This ¡®Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand¡¯, a half top-grade martial art!¡± Lin Han retrieved an ancient manual. ¡°A half top-grade martial art?!¡± ¡°Lin Han actually possesses a powerful martial art like that!¡± Many disciples were drawn to the manual. ¡°Very well!¡± Lin Gutian nodded and stared at the ancient manual greedily. Even though he was the Inner Residence Greatest Disciple in Lin Clan Sect Residence, he was still moved by a half top-grade martial art. ¡°Nobody knows better than I do how fearsome Su He is. Lin Han, be prepared to suffer a terrible loss! Not only will your half top-grade martial art will be mine, but Younger Sister Ruyan will also realize that you¡¯re not a genius, but a petty subdivision disciple¡­¡± Lin Gutian¡¯s eyes burned with fire, and he was eager to see Lin Han being crushed in public. ¡°Lin Han, you¡­¡± Lin Ruyan was worried. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t do things that aren¡¯t to my advantage.¡± Lin Han smiled, then walked toward the practice stage. On his way there, he walked past Lin Gutian who spoke to him indifferently, ¡°Lin Han, I look forward to your loss¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m never the one who loses,¡± Lin Han responded calmly. The fight began! On the practice stage, Lin Han and Su He stood opposite each other. One wore a sackcloth outfit, and had an exceptionally ordinary aura, whereas the other one wore a green outfit, and carried an unrestrained aura as though a longsword pierced the air. When the two entirely different auras clashed, the practice stage shook. ¡°That¡¯s incredible!¡± Shen Wuxia fixed his gaze on the stage. Both the men on stage had auras resembling that of a Martial Arts Grandmaster. Without moving at all, their auras were challenging each other invisibly. ¡°Su He can definitely take Lin Han out in one move!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Although Lin Han¡¯s very powerful, Su He¡¯s the Greatest Heavenly Pride. Don¡¯t forget that even Lin Gutian, an old Heavenly Pride, was sent flying away by an attack from Su He¡¯s palm, so I¡¯m afraid that Lin Han will be triumphed over by half of the same attack!¡± Many young disciples were mumbling among themselves. However, Shen Wuxia, Luo Tianyang, and a few others had a solemn look on their face. It was because they noticed something unordinary. When Lin Gutian was on the stage earlier, he already felt unbearable before Su He made his move. On the contrary, Lin Han was facing Su He with exceptional composure. ¡°Hmm, you can manipulate the forces of Heaven and Earth too?¡± Su He suddenly asked. ¡°I learned it from you, only just a bit,¡± Lin Han replied honestly with a faint smile. ¡°You learned it from me?¡± Su He found it strange. Soon enough, he recalled Lin Han staring at him closely earlier, but he was not bothered then. ¡®Was he secretly learning my martial arts?¡¯ What shocked Su He the most was that Lin Han scratched the surface of his martial art in such a short period of time. It would explain why Lin Han was able to match his aura at the moment. ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re a valuable one. In the whole of Broken Sky City, you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s a threat to me.¡± Su He laughed out loud, then his eyes released a strong will to fight. ¡°An attack from my palm will determine the victor!¡± ¡°Very well!¡± Lin Han held his scabbard with his left hand and placed his right hand on his sword handle. When he was ready to attack, he shouted, ¡°An attack from my sword will determine the victor!¡± A palm, and a sword! Countless young geniuses watched the fight closely, such that even Heavenly Prides like Shen Wuxia and Luo Tianyang were extremely focused. The next moment was going to be a thrilling one. The fight would be decided in one move! At that instant, the arena was oddly quiet. Su He and Lin Han stood opposite each other on the practice stage. One Warrior had his left hand behind their backs and their right hand pushed out, whereas the other one had sharp eyes while holding his sword handle as if he could shatter the vault of Heaven with his sword. Crack, crack¡­ All of a sudden, the practice stage began cracking. The crowd was astounded. ¡®Is this the strength of the Greatest Heavenly Pride? He actually affected Heaven and Earth with his momentum to create an enormous destructive power.¡¯ ¡®If that¡¯s the case, Lin Han, the rising star from Lin Clan Sect Residence, is actually comparable with Su He?¡¯ It was then when Lin Gutian¡¯s face turned darker. ¡®Lin Han had actually hidden so much from me!¡¯ ¡°Ha!¡± At the spur of the moment, Su He made a move to swing his palm at Lin Han, and his right hand produced an inexplicable afterimage in the air. ¡°It¡¯s this feeling!¡± Lin Han was rather in awe when he finally experienced it himself. From his perspective, Su He¡¯s palm was not of a human¡¯s, and it felt like all of Heaven and Earth was oppressing him. It was a boundless and enigmatic feeling as if a towering mountain were putting its weight on him. Lin Han instantly felt incredibly threatened. He felt like his body and his mind were about to break! Chapter 53 ¡®What horrifying oppression!¡¯ Lin Han was utterly shocked. In the face of a horrible defeat, Lin Han¡¯s reaction was quick. By activating his Dragon Emperor Combat Body, he gained a three-times increase in combat power! ¡°Quick Draw Sword!¡± Sky Splitting Form¡­ Sky Breaking Form¡­ The third form, Sky Crossing Form! Lin Han gathered all his focus and activated his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye to quickly analyze the weak points of Su He¡¯s palm attack. ¡°Clash!¡± All of a sudden, Lin Han attacked with his sword. A ray of sword-light pierced the air, which was aimed at Su He. The whole pavilion was dead silent at that crucial moment. Crash! A strong gust of wind blew past. The two figures on the practice stage had already made their moves, yet no-one was able to get a good look at what happened at that instant. The crowd only saw two figures standing on opposite sides from when they started with their backs facing each other. ¡®Who won!?¡¯ They were eager to find out. ¡°You win, Lin Han¡± Su He suddenly mentioned. He withdrew his right hand into his right sleeve without being noticed, so as to hide the trace of blood on his palm. ¡°No, you have.¡± Lin Han turned around with a slightly pale face. He was hit in the chest by Su He¡¯s palm, causing Qi-blood to boil in his body. He was on the brink of collapsing. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®Why did they both say that the other person won?¡¯ The young disciples below the stage began discussing. ¡°He actually made Su He admit defeat?¡± Lin Gutian¡¯s face took on a ghastly expression. He was unable to stand up against Su He¡¯s palm earlier. He was extremely frustrated at the huge difference. No matter what the result was, Lin Han blocked Su He¡¯s palm, and Su He definitely became afraid of him, or he would not have admitted defeat. Su He¡¯s eyes glowed when Lin Han did the same, and he laughed. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll call it a draw. Next time, I¡¯ll defeat you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± Lin Han burst out laughing too. Regardless of the result, he withstood Su He¡¯s attack. Therefore, the young disciples in the pavilion were in an uproar. The myth surrounding Su He was finally broken by Lin Han. Every single spectator present was left in a daze. On top of that, the other Great Heavenly Prides were in awe as well. ¡®Lin Han, a rising star from Lin Clan Sect Residence, had actually surpassed us?¡¯ From then on, Lin Han shared the title of Broken Sky City¡¯s Greatest Heavenly Pride with Su He. ¡°Lin Han, you really didn¡¯t disappoint me!¡± Lin Ruyan cheered, and it was clear through her eyes that she was on the moon. On the other hand, Lin Yu, Lin Cai, and the others were dumbfounded. They knew that Lin Han was a dark horse, but they did not expect him to claim the position of the city¡¯s Greatest Heavenly Pride and leave them behind. ¡°I had a vague feeling that you decided not to use another powerful, mysterious trick up your sleeve,¡± Without warning, Su He mentioned. Lin Han froze for a split second. ¡®Su He is indeed not a simple man.¡¯ Upon hearing that, the crowd was stupefied. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®Lin Han has a more powerful trick that he didn¡¯t use.¡¯ If he had, could he have defeated Su He?¡¯ Right then, even Lin Gutian, who was looking at Lin Han hatefully, became fearful of him. ¡°When you challenge me again next time, I hope that I can have a taste of your other trick.¡± Su He looked at Lin Han meaningfully, then walked out of the pavilion. ¡­ Su He left. As for Lin Han, he became the Greatest Heavenly Pride among the new younger generation of disciples in Broken Sky City, without dispute. Luo Tianyang, Shen Wuxia, and Luo Qingcheng congratulated him. A brief moment later, Lin Han returned to the seating area for Lin Clan Sect Residence, then reached his hand out to the dark-faced Lin Gutian. He smiled. ¡°Brother Gutian, our wager?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Lin Gutian scoffed, then threw the top-grade spirit stone to Lin Han reluctantly before he left the pavilion. This time, Lin Han was completely victorious. Whether it was the limelight they both vied for or the bet they had agreed on, Lin Gutian suffered a terrible loss. Lin Han stored the spirit stone into his Spirit Ring space discreetly, then left with Lin Ruyan, Lin Yu, and the others. Through the Martial Arts Exchange, not only did he gain a top-grade spirit stone, but he also ¡°secretly learned¡± hundreds of powerful martial arts, especially the near-unfathomable usage of conception by Su He. He named the method ¡°building Ascendance¡±. Lin Han noticed the nature-defying feature of his Golden Spirit Fire, which allowed him to steal another person¡¯s tricks. For instance, ¡°Killing Eye¡± and ¡°building Ascendance¡±. Perhaps it was a way of compensating the shortcomings of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor. ¡­ Outside the pavilion, the people left one after another. Lin Han and his clan members were ready to return to Lin Clan Sect Residence as well. Chapter 54 Lin Han left Broken Sky Mountain Villa by himself. The air was chilly under the night sky. Lin Han furrowed his brows slightly. Ever since he left the mountain villa, he had been sensing a hint of a cold killing intent lurking in the dark. His strong perception made him more alert. ¡®Someone¡¯s trying to ambush me! ¡®Is it someone from the sect residence?¡¯ A number of faces flashed in his mind right away. ¡°Bzz¡± Without any hesitation, he activated his Spirit Master Heavenly Eye. Following that, a giant spirit-shaped eyeball rose from Lin Han¡¯s body, and hung in the night sky to overlook the area. ¡°I found them!¡± Almost the instant he activated the Spirit Master Heavenly Eye, he noticed three figures lying in ambush in the dense forest. ¡°Lin Badao, the white-eyebrowed elder, and a strange middle-aged man in black armor!¡± Lin Han immediately identified the three figures. The Governor¡¯s Residence¡¯s symbol could be seen on the strange man¡¯s armor. ¡®Is he a powerhouse among the Shadow Guards from the Governor¡¯s Residence?¡¯ Lin Han looked at him coldly. Lin Badao would join hands with the white-browed elder and the Governor¡¯s Residence to kill me? How dare he! ¡®Lin Badao and the elder are clearly doing this to take revenge, but what about the Governor¡¯s residence? ¡®Because I¡¯m a Heavenly Pride!¡¯ After pondering for a while, Lin Han quickly figured things out. ¡®Looks like the Governor¡¯s Residence plans to destroy me since they failed to rope me in.¡¯ ¡®Lin Badao has the cultivation base of sixth tier martial art, which is none of my concern now, but based on the aura of the white-eyebrowed elder and the black-armored man, it looks like they¡¯re both half a step from the Grandmaster Boundary. It¡¯ll be fine if I¡¯m going against one of them, but three at once becomes very risky¡­¡¯ Lin Han immediately analyzed the situation himself. A normal Heavenly Pride would be doomed in this situation, but he possessed a damaged spirit weapon, which was a bow that could instantly kill a Master at the peak of sixth tier martial art. Since he did not show his tricks as a Spirit Master at the Martial Arts Exchange earlier, he was sure that the three men would not see it coming. With that, as long as he managed things well, the odds would be in his favor. ¡°Hmph, are you trying to kill me? What perfect timing, I¡¯ll get rid of all my troubles tonight!¡± Once Lin Han decided on his course of action, he headed in Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s direction without haste. His Spirit Master Heavenly Eye was hanging quietly in the night sky. Somewhere far in the dense forest. ¡°This fella¡¯s going to die tonight!¡± Lin Badao said cruelly. ¡°We can get rid of a Martial Grandmaster in seventh tier martial arts with a secret ambush, let alone this lad in sixth tier martial arts,¡± The white-eyebrowed elder expressed angrily. Previously, it was Lin Han who killed his disciple and forced him to leave, thus he naturally loathed Lin Han. On the other hand, the black-armored man felt rather odd. He did not expect the two men to despise Lin Han to that extent, and that they would be forced to their wits¡¯ ends because of him as well. As such, the black-armored fan was slightly wary of the young green-robed man, because he knew that he was certainly not an ordinary person. Nonetheless, the three men were unaware that a giant spirit-shaped eyeball was watching their every move from above their heads. If they looked up and noticed it, they might be terribly appalled. A brief moment later. ¡°Eh? That fella actually stopped?¡± Lin Badao was confused. Upon hearing him, the others quickly looked over. They saw Lin Han sitting on an empty spot, retrieving a shiny spirit stone. ¡°It¡¯s a top-grade spirit stone!¡± The white-eyebrowed elder looked at the stone with fiery eyes, then mentioned, ¡°That fella¡¯s trying to absorb the spirit stone¡¯s power to advance to the next boundary.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Even God is helping me. Once he¡¯s at the point of breaking through, which is when he can¡¯t care for himself, we¡¯ll kill him right away, and that top-grade spirit stone will be our trophy!¡± Lin Badao was extremely excited. ¡°Alright. Looks like he¡¯s trying to advance his cultivation base before returning to the sect residence, so that he can go against Lin Gutian once he goes back, but we found out about his secret.¡± The white-eyebrowed elder was greedy as well, and had strong killing intent. ¡°Is he really trying to breakthrough to go against Lin Gutian when he¡¯s back at Lin Clan Sect Residence?¡± Beside Lin Badao and the white-eyebrowed elder, the black-armored man was dubious. He vaguely felt that something was off. However, once he thought about his ambush target being just a 17-year-old boy, he got rid of the thought. ¡®So what if that young green-robed man did it on purpose?¡¯ Among the three of them, one of them was a Master at the peak of sixth tier martial arts, whereas the other two were half a step from Grandmasters. Could they not kill a young man in sixth tier martial arts? ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The three of them looked at each other, then stayed low as they approached Lin Han who was sitting with his legs crossed on the empty ground. At that moment, they did not notice the giant spirit-shaped eyeball hanging above the sky looking at them contemptuously¡­ Chapter 55 The murderous aura intensified under the cold and piercing moonlight. Lin Han sat unperturbed in the clearing. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead while he clutched onto the spirit stone, absorbing the energy it had to offer. He was approaching a breakthrough ¡°This is it!¡± Lin Badao, Elder White Eyebrow and the black robed man searched through the darkness to find Lin Han. Lin Badao was the one that held the deepest grudge against the man. He could see that Lin Han was struggling with his eyes shut tightly, and at that moment, he realized that Lin Han was achieving a breakthrough. Lin Han would not stand a chance if he was attacked now. ¡°Charge!¡± Without discussing with the two men who followed closely behind, Lin Badao sprang out of the dense forest, gripping onto his changdao with an aura that sent chills down one¡¯s spine. He directed a thrust at Lin Han. As he closed in, he suddenly felt Lin Han¡¯s aura settle. It was definitely not the kind of unstable aura one would have right before a breakthrough. In that split second, a thought flashed through Lin Badao¡¯s mind. ¡®This is a ruse!¡¯ Lin Badao could not react in time and from the corner of his eye, he saw Lin Han¡¯s piercing gaze as he revealed an icy blue bow. ¡®No!¡¯ Lin Badao¡¯s expression changed. He had witnessed the terror the ice crystal bow wrought. It was the same bow that killed Lin Wuya, who held the same rank as himself, with a single arrow. ¡°Too late.¡± Lin Han grinned. Buzz! Lin Han crouched forward like an enormous dragon and drew the bow into a crescent with his mighty arm. At this moment, he fused his internal Qi with the Qi in the environment and focused them on the bow as an ice crystal arrow formed Whoosh! Lin Han abruptly released his grip on the bow, launching the ice crystal arrow which tore through the air, towards Lin Badao. ¡°Killing Knife Art!¡± ¡°Sea Dividing Blade!¡± Lin Badao¡¯s heart turned cold, he only had time to execute his most powerful knife art. Clang! The changdao struck and broke the ice crystal arrow in a blink of an eye. Lin Badao beamed with ecstasy. He could not believe he had struck the arrow. However, in front of him, Lin Han sneered at him and spat out, ¡°Freeze!¡± Boom!Read more chapters at Listnovel.com Almost immediately, enormous amounts of ice energy flowed out from the ice crystal arrow. The changdao that Lin Badao was holding as well as his entire body was instantly frozen solid. All this happened in an instant. In the dense forest, all the two men saw Lin Badao dashing out of hiding with a fearsome shriek before becoming frozen solid in ice. ¡°You little brat, how dare you!?¡± Elder White Eyebrow was furious as he realized what had just happened. The black-armored man strode out somberly behind him. The trio were deceived. With that, the price they paid was the loss of a top Grandmaster ¨C Lin Badao. Pop! Elder White Eyebrow lightly touched the ice that encased Lin Badao and it instantly cracked and broke into pieces of bloodied, icy blocks of flesh. ¡°Tsk!¡± Elder White Eyebrow and the black-armored man drew a deep cold breath after they saw what had just happened. ¡®How can this kid be so cunning?¡¯ Tap! On the bare piece of land, Lin Han kept quiet. Little did they know that the arrow he fired had depleted two-thirds of his True Element. He wasted no time and darted towards the dense forest. When Elder White Eyebrow and the black-armored man spotted Lin Han fleeing in a hurry, it dawned upon them that he was trying to escape. ¡°That kid has an incredibly powerful weapon, but it¡¯s sure to drain most of his True Element once he uses it. We must chase him when he¡¯s weak!¡± the black-armored man shouted suddenly. Elder White Eyebrow nodded. Together with the black-armored man, they headed towards where Lin Han escaped and gave chase. ¡°Little brat, I didn¡¯t expect you to have so many treasures. Well, they will all belong to me after I kill you¡­¡± Elder White Eyebrow glanced at the black-armored man revealing his greed and maliciousness. Under the pitch-black night sky, a deadly hunt was happening. Both Elder White Eyebrow and the black-armored man, who are Half-Grandmasters, emitted strong auras and they locked onto the silhouette of the green-clothed young man in front of them. ¡°How is this kid moving so fast?!¡± Elder White Eyebrow could not hide his hint of shock. For the entire 30 minutes, they were not able to close the gap with Lin Han. They could not believe that no matter which route they took, Lin Han would always manage to dodge them. It was as though there were eyes watching them and revealing the paths that they took. Elder White Eyebrow and the black-armored man exchanged glances and caught the shock in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Attack!¡± Suddenly, a chilling shout came from the surrounding darkness. ¡°That kid dares to sneak up on us?¡± A trace of anger flashed across Elder White Eyebrow¡¯s face as he struck his palm at the direction of the sound. ¡°Sky-destroying Great Collapse Hand!¡± Boom! A giant palm formed in the air, resembling a huge grinding disc that immediately flew towards the forest where the sound had come from, crushing everything in its path. Boom! A huge tree as thick as two people in diameter, shattered into a million pieces. Clank! At that instant, a sword flew out from another direction. ¡°That longsword came from that direction!¡± the black-armored man sneered. At that instant, a golden-red halberd appeared in his hands and he thrust it toward where the longsword came from. Clang! A loud piercing clang emitted from the clash of the golden-red halberd and the longsword. Bang! A shockwave erupted from the clash, but the black-armored man did not move an inch. Lin Han was taken by surprise and retreated back into the surrounding darkness. ¡°Such powerful energy, a seasoned person half a step from Grandmaster indeed!¡± Lin Han hid in the darkness while he struggled to hold onto the sword. The force from the golden-red halberd strike was tremendous, comparable to the strength of a seventh-tier Grandmaster. The black-armored man was almost at the Grandmaster level. Lin Han groaned at the thought of it. The reason why Lin Han lured both of them into the dark forest was to unleash his greatest strength of Spirit Master Heavenly Eye and kill them when he had the chance. However, he did not expect the black-armored man to be so powerful. If it had not been blocked by the black-armored man, his sword strike would have at least severed Elder White Eyebrow¡¯s arm, even if it did not kill him. While planning for the next move, Lin Han held onto the spirit stone and maneuvered the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor which enabled him to fully absorb the essence of the stone. As a result, his true element recovered rapidly. Lin Han had intended to use the top-grade spirit stone for a breakthrough but in order to kill the two men, he wasted the stone for a speedy recovery. Out on the barren land, Elder White Eyebrow shuddered in fear. ¡°Thank you.¡± He kowtowed to the black-armored man. ¡°No problem, this kid is just too cunning, we must observe our surroundings at all times, otherwise we may die at his hands.¡± The black-armored man wrapped his fingers around the golden-red halberd tightly, ready for battle. Snap! A nearby tree branch broke. ¡°Over there!¡± The two men caught a glimpse of a shadow before they followed suit into the dense forest. However, all they found was the powdery residue from the drained spirit stone. The black-armored man exploded in fury. ¡°Damn it! That kid has absorbed all of the energy from the spirit stone, he¡¯s gonna use that obscenely powerful¡­¡± Whoosh! Before he could finish his sentence, an ice crystal arrow whooshed out of the darkness and went straight for their skulls. ¡°How is he so accurate even on a dark night like this?!¡± The black-armored man moved to the side immediately. Yet, the ice crystal arrow was too quick and it was directed at where they tried to hide. Prediction! The word flashed across their minds sending chills down their spines. How could a young man be a match for them? Such brutal wit! Such a seasoned scheming mind! These precise predictions! At that point, they felt like they were enveloped by death. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna die!¡± All of a sudden, Elder White Eyebrow struck his palm at the unsuspecting black-armored man pushing him to the direction of the ice crystal arrow. ¡°You!¡± the black-armored man was enraged. Puff! An icy arrow penetrated his skull. Before he even bled, his body had turned into ice, sucking the life out of him. In the same spot, Elder White Eyebrow took a deep breath, realizing he cheated death again. ¡°Is that how you repay your lifesaver, Elder White Eyebrow, by pushing him towards his death?¡± A voice echoed. It was from Lin Han! He stepped out from the darkness with a cold gaze and smirked at the fearful Elder White Eyebrow. Chapter 56 At that instant, in the dense woods under the night sky. Two figures, young and old, faced each other with killing intent. ¡°Elder White Eyebrow, it¡¯s your turn,¡± Lin Han said coldly. ¡°Hmph, even though the spirit stone boosted your strength, you have already used the mysterious ice bow twice. I¡¯m afraid that you won¡¯t have enough True Element for another one.¡± Elder White Eyebrow smirked. ¡°Do I really need the ice bow to kill you?¡± Lin Han replied. ¡°How dare y¡­ You, little brat!¡± Elder White Eyebrow stiffened. A look of cruelty flashed across his wrinkly face. ¡°Stop pretending, Lin Han. Tonight your blood shall stain the land!¡± ¡°Old chap, you seem to have overestimated yourself.¡± Lin Han smiled coldly with a twinkle in his eyes. ¡°Little brat, die!¡± Elder White Eyebrow had a ruthless look to him. He lunged forward and instantly struck his palm towards Lin Han. Sky-destroying Great Collapse Hand! It was the same half top-grade martial arts he had used the previous time, but this time the Elder White Eyebrow had pushed it to the extent of the major advancement boundary. At that moment, his palm formed an enormous force in the air. It was as heavy as a huge rock weighing a thousand pounds crushing down. The previous time at the Inner Residence Martial Arts Tea Party when Lin Han was crushed by this very same palm force, he could hardly take breath into his lungs. Now, he did not have the slightest fear. Although the two ice crystal arrows launched by Lin Han depleted his true element substantially, the energy absorbed from the entire spirit stone was enough to kill Elder White Eyebrow. ¡°Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand!¡± Boom! Lin Han¡¯s aura exploded with the aura of a dragon. At this point, he extended his arm and it grew rapidly, the bulging muscles tore through his clothes and turned dark green. Even his hands transformed into a mighty dragon claw that radiated tremendous power! ¡°Boom¡± The palm force clashed violently with the dark green dragon claw and ignited a massive explosion. Step! Step! Step! Both of them could not take the force and took a few steps backward. ¡°You¡¯re only at the beginning of sixth tier martial arts. Even if you possess this half top-grade martial art, it¡¯s impossible for you to match my Sky-destroying Great Collapse Hand! What kind of sorcery did you use!?¡± The power that came from the mighty dragon claw had thoroughly shocked Elder White Eyebrow. ¡°Sorcery?¡± Lin Han mocked, ¡°How naive!¡± ¡°How dare!? Die, you insolent scum!¡± Elder White Eyebrow grew increasingly furious. Although he was old, his Qi and power were endless. Bang! Bang! Bang! ¡­ The two shadows intertwined in the dense forest and caused aggressive eruptions of True Element. The immense aura shook and destroyed the surrounding willow trees. ¡°Boom¡± Another collision separated the two shadows. At that instant, Elder White Eyebrow could not have been more terrified than he already was. Lin Han was able to go head-on against him without faltering? Elder White Eyebrow was a veteran person that was a half-step from being Grandmaster. How long had Lin Han practiced? How could he have matched Elder White Eyebrow¡¯s capability? Elder White Eyebrow was uncertain. ¡°Lin Han, there¡¯s no need for us to fight to the death. Let¡¯s settle this is in peace, I promise not to tell anyone about tonight. I could even return to Lin Clan Sect Residence to help you take on Lin Gutian.¡± Elder White Eyebrow suddenly said. What surprised him was Lin Han, who stood opposite him, nodded and said, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°You agree?¡± Elder White Eyebrow was astonished. ¡°Yes, I agree. But, I¡¯ll need something from you,¡± Lin Han replied slowly. ¡°What is it?¡± Elder White Eyebrow seemed delighted. What game was this kid playing? ¡°The head above your neck!¡± Lin Han replied suddenly and stared at Elder White Eyebrow with a mocking gaze. ¡°You¡­You¡¯re mocking me!¡± Elder White Eyebrow was furious. ¡°Hmph, you pushed a man that saved your life into the abyss of death! I wouldn¡¯t dare trust an old dog like you!¡± Lin Han said. ¡°What did you call me? Old¡­Old dog? Even if I have to use up my source of life, I will uproot your veins, peel your skin, and tear you into a thousand pieces!¡± Boom! A terrifying aura was released from Elder White Eyebrow¡¯s aged body and an oppressive force enveloped the entire land. Elder White Eyebrow was actually igniting his internal true element! He was betting his life on this! ¡°I¡¯ll kill you in one move!¡± All of a sudden, Lin Han shouted. Following suit, Lin Han¡¯s Dragon Emperor Combat Body erupted. Lin Han¡¯s combat power tripled! ¡°Boom¡± Similarly, tremendous energy rushed through Lin Han¡¯s limbs. At that moment, his eyes flashed with malice. The Killing Eye! ¡°Buzz¡± Across from Lin Han, Elder White Eyebrow¡¯s field of vision was suddenly filled with mountains of corpses. Blood flowed for thousands of miles, painting a horrifying bloodied scene. ¡°This type of deceitful hypnotism again!¡± Elder White Eyebrow bit the tip of his tongue abruptly and broke free from the hallucination. ¡°Killing Sword Art!¡± ¡°Sky Crossing Form!¡± It was at that split second when Elder White Eyebrow broke free from the hallucination that a flash appeared at the corner of his eye. At that moment, Elder White Eyebrow looked terrified. It was too late for his body to react. ¡°Puff¡± A splatter of blood bloomed under the night sky. The next moment¡­ Thud! Elder White Eyebrow¡¯s head rolled off his neck and fell to the ground. The horrified expression of his last moment remained on his aged face. ¡°Phew!¡± Lin Han sheathed his sword, collapsed to the ground and panted. The ambush tonight was too treacherous! The slightest form of negligence would have meant death. Luckily, after utilizing almost all of his means, Lin Han succeeded in killing three of them, leaving none alive. A half-hour passed, and Lin Han finally regained a fraction of his True Element. He stood up and started to collect his loot. Lin Han retrieved an ancient book from Elder White Eyebrow¡¯s body. It was the half top-grade martial arts, the ¡®Sky-destroying Great Collapse Hand¡¯. Not only that, but there were also dozens of Yan Kingdom gold notes, all of which amounted to quite a bountiful reward. Then, Lin Han walked over to the black-armored man who was in the form of an ice sculpture. Beside him lay the quaint, golden-red halberd. ¡°Lin Badao¡¯s changdao is a high-grade weapon, and even then it was destroyed by the big blue bow. But this golden-red halberd doesn¡¯t even have a scratch on it, could this also be a spirit weapon?¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes sparkled as he picked up the golden-red halberd. He transferred some true element into it and instantly the tip of the halberd spat out a stream of light. Lin Han was delighted. He stabbed ferociously at the ground with the halberd. ¡°Boom¡± The ground shattered and formed a crater instantly. ¡°Although this is not as powerful as the big blue bow, its material is exceptionally solid. This should also be a rare treasure.¡± Lin Han picked up the golden-red halberd and stowed it in the Spirit Ring. Afterwards, Lin Han cheerfully headed back towards the Lin Clan Sect Residence. Tonight, not only did he resolve all his troublesome matters, he gained a set of the half top-grade martial arts. A golden-red halberd that he thought was a spirit weapon and also a stack of gold notes. All this was indeed exceedingly valuable. ¡°Sure enough, killing and looting is the fastest way to grow wealth!¡± For a short moment, Lin Han even had a slight hope that there would be a few more people ambushing him so he could gain some wealth. However, at the thought of the peril he faced while trying to kill the three men tonight, Lin Han could not help but shiver. If it were not for the power that his spirit weapon, the big blue bow had, chances were that he would be the one people would miss. After half an hour, Lin Han finally reached Lin Clan Sect Residence. He went straight to his quarters. Xiao Nu had fallen asleep. Lin Han chose not to bother, instead choosing to go into his house. and the constant tension in him relaxed at that instant. That night was too exhilarating for Lin Han. Until now, he could not believe that he single-handedly annihilated two people a half-step from being Grandmasters as well as a Peak Grandmaster. In the following days, Lin Han did not greet any guests. He was silently perceiving and absorbing all the combat experience that this battle had to offer. Not only that, but Lin Han also continued to enhance the ¡®Killing Eye¡¯ and practiced the ¡®Killing Sword Art¡¯. At one instance. Lin Han came to a pool of water in the backyard, and slowly extended his hand towards the water beneath him. He neither used his True Element or any palm technique, it was just a gentle press of his palm. Nevertheless, a closer look revealed that the palm pressed by Lin Han was similar to the palm pressed by Su He. It had the same enigmatic motion. ¡°Whoosh¡± In front of Lin Han, the initially still pool of water formed a gigantic palm print on the mirror-like water surface following the palm press. Boom! An enormous wave erupted the next instant. That kind of power was no lesser than a top-grade martial arts palm technique. ¡°I can finally grasp a little bit of the technique through this palm press. Hidden within it is the potential to unite Heaven and Earth, and achieve its manipulation. I can almost create the world with this¡­I should name this ¡®Creation Palm¡¯.¡± Lin Han murmured. This kind of indescribable palm technique was secretly learned from Su He. By exploring it with Golden Spirit Fire, he finally understood a fraction of it. However, even this little bit was comparable to the power of a top-grade martial art. If the exploration of this type of palm technique continued until it was mastered, Lin Han dared not imagine how powerful the press of his palm could become. Furthermore, this type of palm technique required almost no transfer of true element, it was as miraculous as the legendary stories of those who turned dust into gold. The thought of that left Lin Han awestruck by the mysterious young man in rags, Su He. ¡®Su He, who are you? And what are you hiding? The next time we meet, I hope I¡¯ll know¡­¡¯ Just as Lin Han was in deep thought. All of a sudden, maid Xiao Nu¡¯s voice rang out nearby. ¡°Young master, Miss Ruyan is here. She¡¯s waiting in the front hall.¡± Chapter 57 A few moments later, in the front hall. Lin Han walked over and saw how worried Lin Ruyan looked at first glance. ¡°What happened?¡± Lin Han asked. Lin Ruyan was looking down but when she heard Lin Han¡¯s voice, she looked up with delight and saw Lin Han walk out from the backyard unscathed. ¡°I was scared to death.There hasn¡¯t been any news from you for the past few days, so I thought¡­ It didn¡¯t occur to me that you were hiding in your quarters.¡± Lin Ruyan scoffed. ¡°What did you think it was?¡± Lin Han revealed a smile. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard?¡± Lin Ruyan¡¯s beautiful eyes had a look of surprise. ¡°Heard about what?¡± Lin Han asked curiously. Lin Ruyan looked closely at Lin Han for a moment to ensure that he was not playing dumb, before she said, ¡°A few days ago, three powerful Half-Grandmasters met with their deaths in the dense forest near Broken Sky Mountain Villa. Each of them died a horrible death. Some said it was done by the demons in the mountains. This news is spreading like wildfire, haven¡¯t you heard?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± With a straight look , Lin Han calmly replied, ¡°That night, Luo Qingcheng from the Governor¡¯s Residence and I had a short discussion. I came back after that and stayed home to practice. I haven¡¯t left the place since.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. the past few days without hearing from you, I couldn¡¯t help but think you were¡­¡± ¡°Killed by demons?¡± Lin Han smirked. ¡°Bad Lin Han, don¡¯t laugh at me! I don¡¯t believe in demons, it¡¯s just that everyone¡¯s talking about it. After all, who could¡¯ve killed the three powerful Half-Grandmasters in a single night? It¡¯s just impossible none of them escaped¡­¡± Lin Ruyan said with a pout. She looked adorable, and breathtakingly beautiful. Seeing that, Lin Han smiled lightly and did not comment further. If Lin Ruyan knew that the mysterious person who killed three of those Half-Grandmasters was the handsome, harmless-looking young man who was standing in front of her, one would wonder if she would be dumbfounded. ¡°By the way, you won the title of Greatest Heavenly Pride at this year¡¯s Martial Arts Exchange, but since the news of the powerful trio murder a few days ago was the talk of the town, your win hasn¡¯t been reported. I¡¯m afraid that the Sect Residence upper levels weren¡¯t informed yet, you can go and let them know. I think they¡¯ll give you a handsome reward,¡± Lin Ruyan suggested. Clang! However, before Lin Han could reply, a crisp and clear gong chime rang throughout the Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°It¡¯s the Sect Residence¡¯s ancient tribe bell, only when there¡¯s an urgent announcement for the clan would the upper levels ring it. Apparently the bell hasn¡¯t rung for decades. That¡¯s weird¡­¡± Lin Ruyan said as she immediately dragged Lin Han towards the inner section of the residence. ¡°When the bell rings, is everyone supposed to assemble?¡± Lin Han asked while on the road. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lin Ruyan nodded. ¡°Especially for us Inner Residence Disciples. When the bell rings, we have to immediately gather at the survival arena.¡± Along the way, both of them saw many of the disciples who looked doubtful while rushing towards the same direction. ¡°What actually happened?¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange, did something happen within the Sect Residence Upper Levels?¡± Many disciples were whispering among themselves along the way. Lin Han¡¯s eyes had a slight glint. Was this bell rung due to the mishap that happened to Lin Badao and Elder White Eyebrow? After careful thought, that was not logical. Lin Badao did not hold a high position in the Sect Residence, and Elder White Eyebrow had left the Lin Clan Sect Residence that day. It was not necessary to ring the bell for these two insignificant people. With these thoughts in heart, Lin Han and Lin Ruyan strode towards the survival arena. Half an hour passed. Below the survival arena stage of the Lin Clan Sect Residence, all of the Inner Residence Disciples stood in line. Lin Han and Lin Ruyan stood out among them. At the forefront was Lin Gutian, the Inner Residence¡¯s Greatest Disciple. All of the disciples were surprised and tried to see what went on at the survival arena stage at that point. In the survival arena, the most respected residence master in the eyes of the disciples actually stood respectfully with a slight bow beside a young man. The young man was dressed entirely in black robes, and stood majestically straight at eight feet, like a great spear penetrating the sky. At that moment, he stood beside the residence master, straight and upright, with a strong aura. Many of the disciples below seemed shaken at the sight of that. They knew that the residence master was the most powerful in Lin Clan Sect Residence. He possessed a great deal of power and had a seventh tier martial arts Grandmaster cultivation base. However, there and then, he stood beside the black-robed young man and had a hint of fear about him. Could it be that¡­ The black-robed young man, was an eighth tier or even ninth tier martial arts Peak Grandmaster? ¡°Residence master Lin, are these all of the disciples from Lin Clan Sect Residence?¡± The black-robed young man asked slowly, his voice deep and powerful, as loud as the sound made from the tremors of a huge bell. ¡°My lord, the Lin Clan Sect Residence Inner Residence Disciples are all here,¡± the residence master replied respectfully. Lin Han was a little shaken by the sight of that. The residence master, one of the three people who had absolute power over Broken Sky City, a lord over his land, was treating a young man in such a way? ¡°Very well, I¡¯ve received news a few days ago that a super genius appeared in the Lin Clan Sect Residence. I¡¯m here in your small city for this super genius, and take him to the Imperial Residence of Chiyang as per King Chiyang¡¯s orders.¡± When the words came out of his mouth by the black-robed young man, a commotion ensued below. The looks of all the Inner Residence Disciples changed significantly. Even Lin Gutian and Lin Han were startled. King Chiyang! The title represented a kind of legend throughout the Yan Kingdom. Legend had it that King Chiyang was a heavenly being who touched the unknown realm beyond ninth tier martial arts. His each and every move contained great power. The royal family of the Yan Kingdom also did not hide the fact that King Chiyang was the strongest in the Yan Kingdom. If he desired domination, he would have reigned in the Yan Kingdom. However, King Chiyang had no wild ambitions. Besides cultivation, his only interest was to look for exceptional geniuses within the Yan Kingdom. If anyone was selected to enter the Imperial Residence of Chiyang, he would rise through the ranks in an instant, like a chicken transforming into a phoenix. After all, King Chiyang¡¯s reputation was greater than the royal family of the Yan Kingdom. Just like that, a legendary individual¡¯s name was blurted out at the survival arena stage from the lips of the black-robed young man. ¡°The Chiyang Guard!¡± Instantly, everyone had the same thought of a title in mind. The Chiyang Guards were King Chiyang¡¯s personal secret forces. According to legend, there were nine Chiyang Guards. Each of them was a Martial Grandmaster who assisted King Chiyang in scouting for super geniuses in every corner of Yan Kingdom. That being said, the black-robed young man standing in the arena might just be one of those members! All the disciples suddenly realized the reason behind the residence master¡¯s courtesy towards the young man. One had to know that even the lowest ranked Chiyang Guard was considered more honorable by leaps and bounds than the master of a noble family from a small city. ¡°According to the reports by the Eight and Ninth Guard, there are two super geniuses from Broken Sky City who are worthy. One is from the Su family, but I have searched and it turned out that the Greatest Genius from the Su family has left the family and disappeared. The other super genius is in the Lin Clan Sect Residence. However, I was rushing to get here and forgot to retrieve his name,¡± the black-robed young man said with a slight frown. There was no intention in his speech, but those who heard it took it to heart. Below, Lin Han stood silent among the people, his eyes flashed a little. The Greatest Genius from the Su family who was mentioned by the black-robed young man should be Su He. However, Lin Han did not expect him to leave Broken Sky City just like that. At that instant, after some contemplation from the black-robed young man, he said, ¡°Residence master Lin, who is the Greatest Disciple in Lin Clan Sect Residence?¡± Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s Greatest Disciple? The residence master pondered and two people crossed his mind. Lin Gutian and Lin Han. However, due to the commotion caused by the mysterious killings of Lin Badao and his allies, the news about the Greatest Heavenly Pride of Broken Sky City won by Lin Han was not reported to the Lin Clan Sect Residence. As for Lin Gutian, it was naturally the jealousy and hatred which he had that stopped him from breaking the news to the Sect Residence Upper Levels. Under this condition, and the fact that Lin Gutian was the main division disciple, the residence master was fond of and favored Lin Gutian more compared to Lin Han. Without giving it much thought, the residence master said, ¡°The Greatest Disciple of Lin Clan Sect Residence is Lin Gutian.¡± Chapter 58 Lin Gutian! As the residence master completed his sentence, a commotion followed. The disciples who were familiar with the truth, such as Lin Ruyan, Lin Yan, Lin Tian and Lin Sha were especially furious. They were clear how exceptional Lin Han had been during the martial art exchange. He was the one who defeated every talented disciple, eventually tying with Su He and becoming Broken Sky City¡¯s Greatest Genius. At that moment, even Lin Yu and Lin Cai who stood at the very front were visibly annoyed. Although Lin Han and Lin Gutian had never fought each other, they understood that Lin Gutian was unlikely to be a compatible match against Lin Han. During the martial arts exchange, Lin Han and Su He fought a close battle which ended in a tie. On the other hand, Lin Gutian was not even able to defend against Su He¡¯s attack. However, the residence master had always been authoritarian. Besides, standing on the arena was none other than a legendary Chiyang Guard. The disciples were only juniors, they did not have any right to voice out their opinions. Upon hearing the residence master¡¯s verdict, Lin Han¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He stood still amidst the crowd, no one knew what he was thinking about. ¡°Residence master!¡± Lin Gutian was filled with excitement as he immediately made his way into the arena. ¡°Is this the Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s best disciple?¡± The young man in black robe slowly spoke. The residence master nodded, pulling Lin Gutian closer to him and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Gutian was Lin Clan¡¯s five-time bearer of the Inner Residence Greatest Disciple title. He is undoubtedly our best.¡± ¡°I agree, this bloke is definitely the Lin Sect Residence¡¯s most outstanding youngster.¡± ¡°Guard Master, the gifted person that you¡¯re looking for is definitely him.¡± At that point, the residence¡¯s accompanying elders who all looked up to Gutian were backing him up unanimously as well. Lin Gutian¡¯s excitement grew as they finished their compliments. His body was trembling in excitement. ¡®Is this it? Am I being invited to the legendary Chiyang Imperial Residence? Maybe¡­ Maybe I¡¯ll even become King Chiyang¡¯s disciple?¡¯, thought Gutian. Observing the trembling Lin Gutian who was unable to contain his excitement, the man in the black robe slightly raised his eyebrows. ¡®This bloke, even if his talents were unprecedented, he wouldn¡¯t be successful if he¡¯s this impulsive,¡¯ thought the man. Having been struck with an idea, the man in the black robe said slowly, ¡°Lin Gutian?¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± Gutian greeted with a fist-palm salute, still beaming with excitement. ¡°Unleash your greatest attack on me!¡± the man said as he rested both hands behind him. ¡°But¡­¡± Lin Gutian hesitated.Read more chapters at Listnovel.com ¡°Gutian, the Guard Master¡¯s ability is one that¡¯s beyond your comprehension. Hurry up and make a move, remember to unleash your greatest technique!¡± the residence master immediately reminded him. He always had high hopes for Gutian. If Lin Gutian could gain access into the Palace of Chiyang, then he would bring the entire Lin Clan Sect Residence glory as well. Besides, amongst the disciples he had nurtured, Lin Gutian was the one he was most fond of. ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Gutian nodded and subsequently turned to face the man in black robe. He said, ¡°Master, I¡¯m attacking now.¡± ¡°Boom!¡± A powerful aura radiated and spread outwards from Gutian¡¯s body. Shockingly, the cultivation base was one that was a half-step to a Grandmaster boundary! This surprised many of the disciples in the inner residence. What a strong cultivation base coming from Lin Gutian. Witnessing the scene, the residence master and elders could not help but to nod in approval as well. They thought they had made the right decision in choosing Lin Gutian. However, also witnessing the same scene was the man in black robes who was standing on the other end of the arena. His expression was still unmoved, and he calmly said, ¡°Come on, unleash your move.¡± ¡°Dragon-Tiger Celestial Seal!¡± Without warning, Gutian made his move. The True Element within his palms erupted. Gradually, dragon-tiger energy manifested within his surroundings. The roar of a dragon-tiger instantly echoed throughout the entire survival arena. Natural martial art ¨C Dragon-Tiger Celestial Seal! ¡°What a strong repressive aura!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know senior Lin Gutian was so powerful! He really is the Lin Sect Clan Residence¡¯s best prodigy!¡± ¡°Fusing his half-Grandmaster¡¯s boundaries with this natural martial art technique, this attack could already rival the strength of a seventh tier martial art grandmaster.¡± Below the arena, the disciples and elders were whispering to one another. They were in awe. ¡°Boom!¡± Lin Gutian hurled his palm facing the guard who stood opposite. The roar of a dragon-tiger sounded, the energy was unstoppable, akin to the gush of a typhoon and the waves of a tsunami. ¡°Swish!¡± However, at that split of a second, the man in black rode gently raised his finger. Just one finger! Next, the incredible aura on Gutian¡¯s physique was thoroughly and immediately repressed. It was as if that stroke of a finger had weighed many tonnes and came crashing down like a mountain. Lin Gutian¡¯s offensive position was instantaneously disrupted. He vomited a pool of fresh blood while retreating hastily. He was in a state of horrified shock. ¡°Gasp!¡± Despite seeing what happened, the disciples below could not fully comprehend what they witnessed. Who knew that the seemingly ordinary man in the black robe could have possessed such terrifying power. With a stroke of a finger, the attack that could have rivaled a seventh-tier Grandmaster was defeated. The crowd¡¯s perception towards this man was elevated to a greater position. ¡°He¡¯s too ordinary,¡± the man in black robe spoke again. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Too ordinary?¡± The residence master and the elders who were previously beaming with hope were mortified. Whereas Lin Gutian¡¯s look immediately turned pale. The man¡¯s calm utterance of merely three words shattered the excitement he once harbored and replaced it with a deep sense of panic and hopelessness. It was only moments ago when he had envisioned himself entering the Chiyang Imperial Residence and even following the legendary King Chiyang¡¯s lead, propelling himself into great success. Alas, a simple comment from this man had dragged him from heaven and cast him into hell. His expression turned powerless and defeated. The rejection from the man in black robe was also difficult for the residence master to process. Biting his lips, he reluctantly protested, ¡°Master, this kid, Lin Gutian was someone whom I¡¯ve nurtured since he was a child. He had reached the sixth tier martial arts when he was just nineteen, and today, he¡¯s twenty-two and is already halfway through becoming a martial art grandmaster. Does this still not match your standards?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I hesitated,¡± the man in black robe said. His annoyance was getting more visible. ¡°Master, but¡­¡± ¡°Silence!¡± The residence master intended to argue further but was halted instantly by the man. He stared directly into the residence master, with an intimidating tone, he asked, ¡°Are you questioning my judgment?¡± ¡°I would never!¡± The residence master immediately bowed and apologized. His expression was one of fear and terror. If he had offended this guard, all it took was a mere finger from him to annihilate the entire Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°Could it be that the report from the Eighth and Ninth Guard was wrong?¡± the man in black robe murmured, as he glanced through the disciples in the inner residence. At that instance, he was already mildly disappointed and intended to stop looking. ¡°Ehh?¡± a figure caught his attention. It was the figure of a humbly dressed youngster. Standing among other disciples, he was handsome and delicate, but nothing about him stood out in the crowd. However, in the perception of the man in a black robe, the humbly dressed youngster had a firm, rigid physique along with bright, clear eyes. It was as if his Essence, Qi and Spirit were deliberately concealed but yet he was unable to contain his excellence and talents. ¡°I¡¯ve found the great prodigy!¡± Finally, the man with a black robe spoke. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The great prodigy?¡± The residence master and the accompanying elders were stunned. They followed the direction of the man¡¯s gaze and saw the figure of a familiar youngster. Lin Han! The residence master was shocked, his look expressing much confusion and doubt. ¡®It can¡¯t be that the Guard Master from the Chiyang Imperial Residence has taken interest in this subdivision disciple, right?¡¯ the residence master thought. He was not aware that Lin Han had been titled ¡®Broken Sky City¡¯s Greatest Heavenly Pride¡¯ a few days ago in the martial arts exchange. As a result, he was doubtful and incredulous of the man¡¯s choice. In his opinion, Lin Han was definitely talented, but he was far from Lin Gutian whom he had personally nurtured and trained. ¡°Master¡­ Could it be a mistake? This young man¡­¡± the residence master wanted to clarify his opinion. However, the man in the black robe immediately walked down the survival arena, ignoring the residence master completely. Having been through the humiliating scene, the residence master¡¯s face turned pale and flushed simultaneously. Meanwhile, Lin Han observed the man in the black robe who was approaching him, his eyes suddenly brightened. This Chiyang guard was indeed no ordinary person. Chapter 59 ¡°Senior.¡± Lin Han modestly greeted with a fist-palm salute. Senior? Upon hearing Lin Han addressing him as a senior, the man¡¯s eyes brightened and nodded satisfyingly. Everyone else feared his status and had always addressed him as ¡®Master¡¯. On the contrary, this humbly-dressed youngster merely saw him as a martial arts senior. To the man, this resembled courage and great ambition. He had high hopes on how this youngster could turn out later in life. The simple address by Lin Han had left a much better impression on the man as compared to Lin Gutian who respectfully addressed him as Master a while ago. Meanwhile, in the arena, countless pairs of eyes gazed towards the young figure the man was walking to. ¡°Lin Han!¡± ¡°It¡¯s really him!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he the Outer Residence subdivision disciple who rose rapidly out of nowhere?¡± At that moment, the crowds of disciples in the inner residence were discussing amongst themselves. All of them were either surprised, unconvinced, envious or jealous. Indeed, there was a huge contrast between the Chiyang guard¡¯s compliment towards Lin Han and his remark that Lin Gutian was too ordinary. ¡°Lin Han? Again? Why? Why is it that he always has to take everything away from me?!¡± At the same time, Lin Gutian was standing nearby with resentment shaking his core. He could feel his hate and viciousness grow. Be it in girls, martial arts or seeking the approval of this man, he was thoroughly defeated by this petty subdivision disciple. ¡®I can¡¯t accept this!¡¯ Lin Gutian was screaming within. He bolted across, his eyes still gloomy. Almost as if he was roaring, Gutian exclaimed, ¡°Master! I can¡¯t accept this!¡± ¡°What can¡¯t you accept?¡± the man in the black robe asked almost begrudgingly. ¡°I can¡¯t accept that I¡¯m not better than Lin Han!¡± Lin Gutian blurted. Although Lin Han and Su He fought to a tie the other night, Lin Gutian did not think that it was a fair fight between both of them. ¡°Lin Han, do you dare fight me while the entire clan watches?¡± Lin Gutian stared at Lin Han who was still amid the crowd. ¡°There¡¯s no reason I wouldn¡¯t!¡± Lin Han had always disliked Lin Gutian due to Gutian¡¯s constant hostility. Immediately after, Lin Han walked out of the crowd. He looked at Lin Gutian, his eyes were almost expressionless. In the past, Lin Han did not confront Lin Gutian because he was still hindered by the fact that they were clanmates. However, now that Lin Gutian crossed the line and challenged him in front of the clan, he decided to teach Gutian a lesson he would never forget. ¡°That¡¯s great. I would like to observe your capabilities as well.¡± the man in the black robe smiled and spoke gently. Meanwhile, the crowd had gone wild. ¡°Lin Gutian and Lin Han are fighting each other?¡± ¡°Even though Lin Han is naturally talented and has risen rapidly from the Outer Residences, there¡¯s still a huge gap between their abilities. You must know, Lin Han is only seventeen, whereas Lin Gutian is currently twenty-two years old. With five years of differences in training, this match isn¡¯t a fair one at all!¡± ¡­ Below the arena, the disciples who were previously from the Outer Residence, such as Lin Yan and Lin Sha, were clearly displeased at Lin Gutian¡¯s shameless behavior. Even for Lin Ruyan, her expressions revealed that she was worried about the situation. She understood how strong Lin Gutian¡¯s power was, especially with his boundaries that are of someone half a step from Grandmaster. Furthermore, he had cultivated a violent natural martial arts technique. It was terrifying. However, now that Lin Han accepted Gutian¡¯s challenge, Gutian was the happiest person in the scene. He looked at Lin Yan mockingly. To him, the only reason he lost to Su He was due to his palm technique. ¡°Lin Han, do you actually think I can defeat everyone?¡± Lin Gutian chuckled. On the other side, Lin Han had walked into the survival arena and saw Lin Gutian sneering. He maintained his calm composure and spoke, ¡°Make your move. You only have one chance.¡± ¡°Hilarious! Do you actually think you¡¯re on par with Su He?¡± Lin Gutian became enraged, his body emitted a singe of powerful vigor. Compared to the vigor in his previous match, this was much stronger. ¡°Dragon-Tiger Celestial Seal!¡± Lin Gutian immediately displayed his strongest martial art technique. ¡°Boom!¡± Within a blink of an eye, a force of a Blue Dragon and a force of a tiger were summoned from Lin Gutian¡¯s palm. As their roars shattered the sky, the forces were accompanied by an unprecedented vigor that bolted towards Lin Han. ¡°Gutian is so filled with hatred, his attacks have become more powerful than before!¡± The residence master was surprised by the scene. As the attack happened, everyone was fixing their sight on the survival arena. ¡°Die, Lin Han! I¡¯ll never lose to you!¡± Lin Gutian almost looked on the verge of insanity. ¡°No, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s losing.¡± Lin Han finally spoke. Then, he merely held out his right hand to stroke an enigmatic path in the air into Lin Gutian¡¯s direction. In that instance, Lin Han¡¯s palm held an enormous amount of energy. Like a gigantic mountain descending from the sky, he landed his palm onto the floor. ¡°What level of conception!¡± Standing at a distance, the man in the black robe was amazed at this sight. Whereas in the survival arena, Lin Gutian¡¯s maniac expression instantly transformed into one of panic. Was it due to Lin Han¡¯s palm technique? ¡°Impossible! How can you know this technique?¡± Lin Gutian screamed uncontrollably. However, he was powerless to change anything. ¡°Boom!¡± Lin Han¡¯s gentle palm technique was the same legendary technique that he had learned from Su He. He named it Creation Palm. As the palm technique descended, it could not be blocked. All of Lin Gutian¡¯s violent and volatile momentum was instantly suppressed. ¡°Ahh!¡± The palm landed directly on Lin Gutian¡¯s chest. He let out a wail and was flung out of the arena as he spat blood once again. He had never been this helpless before. ¡°Tssk!¡± As the scene unfolded, the crowds below winced in shock. Did Lin Han actually defeat Lin Gutian with just one palm move? One? That was impossible! All the inner residence disciples and even the residence master along with his accompanying elders were bewildered. When did this low key subdivision disciple become this strong? Powerful! Potent! Mysterious! To most people, Lin Han was a person who represented all three words. However, after the event unfolded, Lin Han was still standing still in the survival arena. His body remained rigid, eyes still brightened, and his willpower was still sharp as a knife. Shockingly, he pointed towards the man in the black robe who was standing below. ¡°Does Lin Han still want to challenge the Chiyang Guard Master in front of everyone?¡± Even the residence master panicked at the sight of what just happened. He immediately rushed to Lin Han and said, ¡°Lin Han, you can¡¯t do this! You are just a disciple, not everyone is capable of challenging¡­¡± ¡°Not a problem!¡± The man interrupted the residence master and said, ¡°The palm technique that was displayed by this boy was so mysterious, even I couldn¡¯t predict it. I would like to experience this once for my own.¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± the Residence Master bowed and said. Upon hearing the man¡¯s reply, there was nothing he could do. ¡°Stomp!¡± The man in the black robe walked into the survival arena with both hands on his back. He looked at Lin Han and smiled, ¡°Make your move then!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Han inhaled deeply. There was a reason he challenged that man in the black robe. He wanted to experiment and realize just how much potential the Creation Palm he learned yielded. ¡°Creation Palm!¡± As Lin Han roared within, he catapulted himself into the air. Like a precise arrow, he propelled himself into the direction of the man in the black robe. Simultaneously, when his feet were on the ground, Lin Han mirrored Su He¡¯s gesture during the match that night. He was beginning to build Ascendancy. ¡°Such a young age, yet he has managed to build Ascendancy on his own! Although there is still much room for improvement, if he keeps this up, who knows one day it can evolve into a mighty technique!¡± the man in the black robe was visibly delighted. Although Lin Han¡¯s approach was still weak in comparison to the man¡¯s ability, Lin Han¡¯s endless display of skill sets came off as a pleasant surprise to the man. The man saw enormous potential buried within Lin Han. If this potential was to be nurtured, Lin Han would surely excel. ¡°Such a good move!¡± The man in the black robe had finally found his treasure. Naturally, he was in a better mood than before. As he let out a wide grin, the man extended his arm with his palm open, pressing towards the direction of an approaching Lin Han. ¡°Buzz!¡± The atmosphere shook fiercely. Visible to the naked eye, a stream of magnificent Fire True Element gushed out from the man¡¯s palm. ¡°Boom!¡± In the next instance, a gigantic Flaming True Element Palm emerged above the survival arena. Its fingers resembled huge pillars and it burnt with a raging flame. The Palm immediately came crashing down into the arena, it was such a sight to behold. It was a perfect execution of True Element, the man was definitely a martial art Grandmaster! Lin Han was slightly taken aback. However, his eyes conveyed a mighty battle spirit. The Dragon Emperor Combat Body surfaced. His combat strength increased threefold. ¡°Boom!¡± A gush of mighty momentum erupted from Lin Han¡¯s body. He let out a huge battle cry and pressed his palms downwards. The Creation Palm was instantly cast. ¡°Bang!¡± Immediately, a massive shockwave exploded in the midst of the survival arena, sending flames into all directions. The crowd of disciples scattered to avoid the flames. Meanwhile, the Residence Master and his accompanying elders were shocked beyond words. The clash that just happened was terrifying, it could almost threaten a seventh-tier martial art Grandmaster. ¡°Lin Han!¡± Beneath the arena, Lin Ruyan, Lin Yan and the other subdivision disciples were worried. ¡°I¡¯m okay!¡± Lin Han¡¯s voice was heard from within the sea of fire that burned on the survival arena. Then, the flames dispersed. Lin Han¡¯s frail-looking figure appeared in the midst of the survival arena. The rocks and earth nearby had mostly been shattered and charred. It was at that moment when Lin Han finally realized how strong the man in the black robe was. He was not someone Lin Han could defeat at all. Even after he combined his greatest technique ¨C the Creation Palm, together with a threefold strength increase from the Dragon Emperor Combat Body, he was still unable to defend against a simple attack from the man. The residence master seemed to notice Lin Han smiling bitterly. He approached Lin Han and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re still young and your abilities are still undeveloped. However, this Chiyang Guard Master is probably already a stellar ninth-tier martial art Grandmaster. If you train more diligently, you¡¯ll catch up to him in no time.¡± Although the residence master¡¯s tone was soft, the man in the black robe had heard it all. Even then, he merely smiled and was not offended by it. Deep down, the man was shocked by Lin Han¡¯s performance as well. In regards to the residence master¡¯s comment, he obviously agreed with it. Not far away, a helpless Lin Gutian could only stare blankly at the glorious battle that took place in the survival arena just now. If he was in the arena, he would have probably been reduced to ash. It was at that moment when he realized that Lin Han and Su He¡¯s tie was not a result of a fluke nor opportunism. Indeed, he possessed what it took to become Broken Sky City¡¯s Greatest Genius. ¡°You must be the one Eighth Guard and Ninth Guard mentioned. Even if you¡¯re not, you definitely have what it takes to enter the Chiyang Imperial Residence.¡± the man in the black robe let out a wide grin. He was in a good mood. To him, to be able to locate an unprecedented genius in a place as small as Broken Sky City was this trip¡¯s greatest reward. Chapter 60 Next, the crowd gazed in envy. The man¡¯s expression had suddenly turned serious. He looked towards Lin Han and said, ¡°Lin Han, are you willing to join the Chiyang Imperial Residence?¡± ¡°I will most willingly join the Chiyang Imperial Residence!¡± Lin Han replied solemnly with a fist-palm salute. Lin Han¡¯s goal had always been to become someone formidable within the Lin Clan Sect Residence. However, ever since he received his inheritance from the First Ancient Dragon Emperor, his vision and ambitions broadened. It pressed him to ascend beyond what this small place could offer and explore the vast outer world. Besides, he was also bound by a heavy responsibility, which was to search for this Ancient Land and kill his enemy, the Ice God, Lan Bingyan. Lin Han held immense gratitude towards the First Ancient Dragon Emperor who had bestowed his power upon him. If it weren¡¯t for the Emperor, Lin Han would still have been struggling at the lowest level like an insignificant ant. Hence, by hook or by crook, Lin Han would do all he could to fulfill the Dragon Emperor¡¯s last wish. It was his way of repaying the Dragon Emperor¡¯s kindness. Regardless of whether Lin Han wanted to explore the outer world or to repay the Dragon Emperor¡¯s kindness, Lin Han needed a greater platform to thrive in. The Lin Clan Sect Residence was no longer satisfactory for Lin Han. Naturally, Lin Han would not have rejected joining the Chiyang Imperial Residence. Upon hearing his agreement, the man in the black robe smiled and said, ¡°Good. Good. With talents like yours, you¡¯ll definitely be an unordinary individual once you enter the Chiyang Imperial Residence!¡± The man had huge expectations for Lin Han. His compliment had caused many of the other disciples to drown in envy. In the same boat were the residence masters and the accompanying elders, whose envy was also obvious from their expressions. Indeed, the Chiyang Imperial Residence could be considered the place with the most powerful people within the Yan Kingdom. Not even the Royal Family of the Yan Kingdom could measure up to it. There was only one factor that contributed to the immense power of the Chiyang Imperial Residence, which was that the King Chiyang himself was Yan Kingdom¡¯s greatest powerhouse. To be able to become a part of the Chiyang Imperial Residence could be considered a lifelong dream for many people. At this point, Lin Han was chosen to be part of it. In fact, it was quite possible that he would even receive personal guidance by none other than King Chiyang himself. It was an opportunity of a lifetime! ¡°That¡¯s right, I almost forgot. In three months¡¯ time, the Chiyang Imperial Residence will be hosting the ¡®Hundred Cities Genius Martial Arts Exchange¡¯. At that time, there¡¯ll be close to a hundred chosen young geniuses like you from all over Yan Kingdom participating in the event. The higher you rank in the martial arts exchange, the more training resources you¡¯ll be given after entering the Imperial Residence, the heavier the emphasis that¡¯ll be placed on you as well. In fact, the top three ranking geniuses can even be accepted by the Chiyang King as his closed-door disciples!¡± As he finished speaking, the man threw a jade token to Lin Han. He said, ¡°This is a Chiyang Token. Keep it with you. In three months¡¯ time, you will arrive at the Chiyang Imperial Residence and participate in the Hundred Cities Genius Martial Arts Exchange. Don¡¯t miss it! Meanwhile, finish whatever you need to do here. Once you enter the residence, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t have much time to return.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior!¡± Lin Han accepted the token. There were mysterious patterns carved on it. Subtly, Lin Han could sense a decent amount of energy burrowed within it. This was because Lin Han¡¯s perception had always been strong. If it were any other person holding it, they probably would not have sensed the flow of energy within the Chiyang Token. Meanwhile, the man in the black robe seemed to have noticed Lin Han¡¯s realization. Surprised initially, the man then smiled and said, ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve noticed it. This token was cast by the Chiyang Imperial Residence, it¡¯s power is equivalent to a half spirit weapon. When activated by True Element, it can form a Chiyang Shield around your body. It¡¯s capable of blocking even an attack from a Great Grandmaster. However, it can only be used three times before its energy needs to be replenished.¡± ¡°Half spirit weapon? Capable of blocking a Great Grandmaster¡¯s attack?¡± Lin Han was slightly shocked. What great carving skills from the Chiyang Imperial Residence! The boundaries of Grandmasters ranged from seventh to ninth tier martial arts.. However, different titles also existed within these levels. The Grandmasters of the seventh and eighth tiers were known as the Novice Grandmasters. It was only upon reaching the ninth tier martial arts that one could be known as a Great Grandmaster. It was scary that the Chiyang Token could actually withstand the attack from a Great Grandmaster three times. A half spirit weapon indeed.Read more chapters at Listnovel.com However, the only weakness it possessed was that it could only be used three times, after which the energy within would be exhausted. Still, it was not a device any average martial arts warrior could ever attain in his lifetime. At that moment, the envy amongst the disciples only grew. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it. I¡¯ve told you whatever I needed to¡­ Little one, here¡¯s a final caution for you. In the martial arts exchange three months later, if you want to stand out among others and be looked up upon in the Chiyang Imperial Residence, you¡¯ll have to be ranked at least in the top ten, perhaps even in the top five.¡± The man in the black robe cautioned and began to leave immediately. However, at that point in time, Lin Han suddenly asked, ¡°I was wondering if I could know in which place Senior once ranked?¡± To be able to become a Chiyang Guard was definitely not a simple feat to pull off. One had to be aware that the Chiyang Guards who were under the command of the Chiyang King had always only been nine individuals. They were all handpicked from a crowd of hundreds to be where they were. ¡°I was ranked third that year!¡± the man in the black robe was mildly astonished, yet he still chose to reply. ¡°What tier was Senior¡¯s cultivation base at during that time?¡± Lin Han asked again. ¡°The seventh tier martial art, the boundaries of a Novice Grandmaster.¡± The man in the black robe laughed heartily, and finally, he spoke again, ¡°If you wish to be in the top three, in three months¡¯ time, you must at least attain the boundaries of a Grandmaster! Lin Han, we¡¯ll meet again in three months¡¯ time¡­¡± As his voice lowered, the man in the black robe vanished from the Lin Clan Sect Residence. ¡°Three months¡¯ time, the boundaries of a Grandmaster.¡± Lin Han held the token firmly in his palms and murmured. Subsequently, among the envious gaze of other disciples, Lin Han returned to his residence. That night, the residence master sent an order for Lin Han to meet at a great hall of the inner residence for a discussion. It was in the middle of the night, the moonlight was vivid yet gloomy. Within the inner residence, inside a great hall, the residence master and Lin Han sat facing each other. At that point, Lin Han¡¯s status had already gained much respect from the Residence Master. No matter how well or how poor Lin Han would perform in the Hundred Cities Genius Martial Art Exchange, to be able to enter the Chiyang Imperial Residence was already very impressive. Besides, once he became part of the Chiyang Imperial Residence, even if he was on the lowest level of existence in that place, it was still far more respectable than his status as the residence master of such an insignificant city. Such is reality! ¡°Lin Han, the elders and I have decided that the third level of the Clan Residence Martial Art¡¯s Hall will now be opened to you.¡± the residence master said. ¡°Level three, is that where the natural martial art is at?¡± Lin Han¡¯s eyes brightened with excitement. Lin Han knew he had the deduction ability of the Golden Spirit Fire. This meant that after deducing, whichever damaged natural martial arts could be turned into complete natural martial arts! Having thought of that, Lin Han¡¯s excitement grew. It looks like with his current status, even someone at the level of a residence master had come to please him. It was the first time that Lin Han could personally experience the benefit of having strong abilities and status. Perhaps, one could even call it special privileges. ¡­ Three days later. Within the Inner Residence, Lin Han stood in front of a small hill that was tens of meters tall. His vigor instantly rose to Sky Breaking level. ¡°Dragon-Tiger Celestial Seal!¡± Boom! Lin Han mobilized both of his hands, with one containing the force of the Blue Dragon, and on the other hand, a fierce tiger force was seen emerging from it. With a mighty roar, both forces clashed into the hill in front. ¡°Bam!¡± The entire hill shook and was shattered into smithereens. In its place was a crater a few feet deep. The martial art that Lin Han displayed was shockingly the Lin Clan Sect Residence¡¯s only natural martial art ¨C the Dragon-Tiger Celestial Seal. This set of natural martial arts skills are precisely what Lin Han had learned from the third level of the martial arts hall in the past few days. According to the residence master, Dragon-Tiger Celestial Seal may be the lowest level amongst all natural martial art skills, but when compared to the average levelled martial art skills, it was many times stronger. Furthermore, based on the Golden Spirit Fire¡¯s deduction, Lin Han realized that once this set of martial art skills had been completed, there would be nine imprints of it. The recordings found in the third level had only three imprints. This set of natural martial art skills was incredibly powerful, it was not as weak as Lin Han initially imagined it to be at all. As to why it appeared weak when Lin Gutian wielded it, it was because he had only learned the abilities of the first imprint. When Lin Han unleashed his attack, he realized that its strength was comparable to that of the Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand. A natural martial art indeed! Once all the nine seals were unleashed together, who knew what immense power it could hold. Hence, Lin Han was only focused on studying the Dragon-Tiger Celestial Seal these days. In addition, he had also been incessantly deducing the remaining moves using the Golden Spirit Fire. He was eager to restore the damaged natural martial arts as soon as he could. He had a plan to use his highest grade spirit stone to transcend himself. However, the spirit stone was already consumed as it was used to kill Lin Badao and his group. As a result, Lin Han¡¯s cultivation base had always remained at the medium level of sixth tier martial arts. Each martial art tier was further categorized into five levels, which are the Early Level, Medium Level, Advanced Level, Major Advancement and Peak. Lin Han knew that it was still a long journey to break through the boundary of a Grandmaster Yet, there was still three months until Lin Han entered the Chiyang Imperial Residence. He was not anxious at all. As of then, Lin Han had a considerably high net worth. This was especially true after he had gotten a huge sum worth of gold notes from the white-eyebrowed old man. In that evening, Lin Han put on a set of black robes and sneaked out into an underground black market within Broken Sky City. He exchanged all of his gold notes for spiritual medicine. Next, Lin Han isolated himself in his pavilion. Using the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, he absorbed the medicinal efficacy within the spiritual medicines to achieve his breakthrough. It cost a huge fortune when Lin Han exchanged some ten thousands taels of gold worth of golden notes for his spiritual medicines. However, Lin Han did not feel sorry for it at all and immediately swallowed the medicine. Instantly, Lin Han¡¯s body absorbed the streams of powerful medicinal efficacies, strengthening his True Element and Qi-blood. Sixth tier martial arts Medium Level! Sixth tier martial arts Advanced Level achieved! Sixth tier martial arts Major Advancement achieved! Within three days and three nights, Lin Han finished absorbing all the efficacies from the spiritual medicines and ascended three levels continuously. It was an enormous advancement. However, it also meant that all he bought with his golden notes were instantly turned into dust. Martial arts cultivation was indeed very costly. ¡°Boom!¡± A stream of powerful aura diffused outwards from his body. Lin Han stood up in the pavilion and walked towards the front door. It was because at that moment, he could sense footsteps coming from outside. Squeak! Pushing open the attic¡¯s door, the sight of Lin Ruyan¡¯s graceful figure and elegant beauty were instantly imprinted onto Lin Han¡¯s vision.