Swoosh!
All eyes at the scene were focused on that young figure.
Their gazes filled with heat and admiration.
Especially the martial artists from Han Kingdom.
This number one on the Hidden Dragon List’s Celestial List, had been famous in Han Kingdom long before the list in the Martial Arts Garden was even launched, and all the true geniuses of the younger generation in the Nine Kingdoms have heard of his name.
Huo Ruohong was dressed in a dark, silken robe, as if an extremely cold aura emanated from it.
Standing there, he was like a solitary peak, an icy one at that.
"Little Friend Huo, do you have any requests?"
Facing Huo Ruohong, Murong Song did not put on airs as a Second Grade Martial Artist.
Though Huo Ruohong was currently only a Lower Grade Martial Artist, Murong Song clearly understood that with Huo Ruohong’s talent and the training he received from Han Kingdom, it was only a matter of time before he achieved Upper Grade or even First Grade.
Huo Ruohong could not be treated merely as a junior.
"I wasn’t planning to participate in this Martial Arts Academy ranking competition. With my strength, joining this ranking competition would be somewhat bullying. However, I heard that Liang Kingdom has produced a genius who defeated Junior Brother Bian, which piqued my interest."
Huo Ruohong’s voice was very calm, but no one at the scene doubted his words.
Number one on the Celestial List, if people knew before the ranking competition started that Huo Ruohong would be participating, no academy would have any illusions about winning first place.
Huo Ruohong was a presence capable of defeating an entire academy alone.
"Where is Lin Chen of Liang Kingdom?"
Huo Ruohong suddenly raised his voice, and everyone’s attention instantly shifted to Lin Chen.
Everyone understood Huo Ruohong’s intent; he was targeting Lin Chen.
So, how would Lin Chen respond?
"You must be Lin Chen, not bad."
At the moment everyone’s gaze was on Lin Chen, Huo Ruohong also looked over, but his simple "not bad" made Lin Chen smile.
"You came all this way just to tell me ’not bad’?"
Huo Ruohong frowned, "Across the Nine Kingdoms, among our generation, you’re the first I’ve ever said ’not bad’ to."
"So, should I feel honored?"
Lin Chen’s lips curled into a mocking smile, as if Huo Ruohong’s words should make him feel grateful and humbled.
The disciples from various academies, seeing the confrontation between these two, began to feel excited.
The duel was just about to commence.
In front of Huo Ruohong, Lin Chen also showed no signs of backing down, seemingly extremely confident in his own strength.
"Understood."
After a moment, Huo Ruohong’s eyelid twitched slightly, "In that case, let’s have a direct battle. If you win, Hundred Battle Martial Arts Academy will concede defeat and not participate in any subsequent matches."
Wow!
Upon hearing Huo Ruohong’s words, many at the scene were stirred, realizing that conceding would mean Hundred Battle Martial Arts Academy would forfeit the subsequent competitions, finishing last.
"A battle between the two of us decides the rankings of our academies. Do you agree?"
"I do not agree."
Lin Chen shook his head, and upon hearing Lin Chen’s refusal, everyone had peculiar expressions.
Confident moments ago and now refusing?
Especially the disciples from Han Kingdom, their faces showed ridicule, as if Lin Chen dared not confront Senior Brother Huo.
"If you want a fight, I’m willing to accompany you, but I do not represent Canglan Martial Arts Academy alone; there are many senior brothers. I cannot represent the academy."
Lin Chen squinted at Huo Ruohong as he spoke, making Li Yuan and the others feel a mix of happiness and shame.
They knew Junior Brother Lin said this to spare their feelings. The academy’s current stature relied entirely on Junior Brother Lin. Without him, they’d rank between seventh and eighth at best.
In the stands, upon hearing Lin Chen’s response, Hou Zhantian looked at Chen Shan with envy.
Having such a disciple is indeed fortunate for Canglan Martial Arts Academy.
Regrettably, they let Lin Chen go to Canglan back then.
In terms of talent and strength, Lin Chen was no less than Huo Ruohong; despite Huo Ruohong’s prestigious family background in Han Kingdom, Lin Chen hailed from humble fishermen roots, only truly engaging with martial arts in three years.
In less than three years, to reach such heights and be compared with the Nine Kingdoms’ top genius – who could claim Lin Chen’s talent was inferior to Huo Ruohong’s?
But unlike other genius martial artists’ arrogance, Lin Chen considered his fellow disciples’ feelings, a rarity among genius disciples.
"Why the false modesty? A genius should carry the arrogance of a genius."
Huo Ruohong lowered his eyes; academy glory and other disciples were insignificant to him. To him, Lin Chen should be the same, and these words seemed hypocritical.
"As long as you agree to the fight, that’s all that matters. Let’s go to the stage."
Huo Ruohong stepped forward, arriving on stage, causing Murong Song’s face to darken slightly. Huo Ruohong indeed seemed dismissive. Even though Lin Chen agreed, Murong Song, as the host, had yet to make a decision on whether to approve their fight.
Murong Song looked back at his majesty, and only when he saw a slight nod did he remain silent.
Lin Chen also stepped forward, his figure appearing on the platform, facing Huo Ruohong from a distance.
Huo Ruohong suddenly closed his eyes, and in the next moment, his long hair instantly turned silver and danced wildly as if alive. Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that frost was forming between the strands of hair, and an aura of extreme cold emanated from his body.
Swoosh!
In the instant he raised his eyes, Huo Ruohong’s gaze was like an ancient ice river, with a coldness that pierced through and directly targeted Lin Chen’s throat from a hundred meters away.
"Just the gaze can release Martial Path Will, this Huo Ruohong indeed deserves to be ranked first on the Celestial List."
On the spectator stands, a Middle Grade Martial Artist whispered, and facing the icy chill released by Huo Ruohong, the corner of Lin Chen’s mouth turned up in a sneer. In the next moment, his Qi Blood surged violently, and the molten-like Qi Blood lying dormant under his bronze skin scorched the stone bricks underfoot, leaving burn marks. When their two gazes clashed from afar, it even caused the air to ripple.
"No need to test any further."
Lin Chen spoke, and Huo Ruohong nodded, "Hmm, you are worthy of me taking action."
Whoosh!
Huo Ruohong moved, transforming into a silver light. Wherever he passed, frost appeared on the ground, and even the air began to solidify.
Lin Chen, in the instant Huo Ruohong moved, also seemed like a furnace, charging straight at his opponent.
Bam!
In the center of the platform, the collision of their figures erupted with a thunderous roar, and terrifying energy poured out from beneath their feet. A distinct crack appeared on the newly repaired platform bluestone slab, and countless bluestone fragments flew in all directions.
Some Martial Arts Academy disciples who were closer to the platform couldn’t dodge in time and were struck by the bluestone fragments, letting out cries of pain.
"All Martial Arts Academy disciples, fall back!"
Murong Song saw this scene and frowned, speaking up. The disciples present didn’t need Murong Song’s instructions; seeing the miserable state of many companions, they were already retreating, but the fear on their faces was unmistakable.
The fragments stirred up merely by the energy discharge were something they could not withstand. Just how strong must these two be?
Bam bam bam!
On the platform, the Martial Arts Academy disciples saw two streaks of light, one white and one red, continuously collide and separate. Waves of energy poured out from the platform, sending bluestone flying everywhere.
After ten breaths.
The two figures separated. At this moment, the frigid aura around Huo Ruohong had become semi-solid, with frost continuously falling in the air.
"Refreshing, it’s been a long time since I had such a satisfying battle. Lin Chen, you have the qualification to make me use my full strength."
When Huo Ruohong said this, the audience erupted in an uproar.
Even this isn’t his full strength?
"If you had encountered me two months ago, maybe you could have fought me, but alas..."
Seeing Huo Ruohong shake his head, Lin Chen chuckled again, "Why put on a show? I’ve encountered many like you, but in the end, they all disappointed me greatly."
Huo Ruohong’s pupils instantly reflected an icy blue light, "This time, I certainly won’t disappoint you."
Boom!
Huo Ruohong’s aura suddenly surged, and a terrifying Martial Path Will gushed out from his body. Sensing this Martial Path Will, many Martial Arts Powerhouses present focused intently, their expressions serious.
"Seventh Grade!"
"This is a Seventh Grade Martial Path Will. Huo Ruohong has actually broken through to the Seventh Grade."
The Eighth Grade Huo Ruohong could already contend with a Seventh Grade Martial Path without falling behind, so now that he has broken through to the Seventh Grade, just how strong has he become?
"Lin Chen is doomed to lose!"
On the side of the Han Kingdom Martial Arts Academy, Ling Tianhao finally revealed a smile on his face, while Bian Xinjie’s eyes flashed with a hint of regret.
As a disciple of the Han Kingdom Martial Arts Academy, he naturally hoped Senior Brother Huo would win, but from a personal perspective, he actually hoped Lin Chen could win.
If Lin Chen loses, Senior Brother Huo’s fame will rise again, but his loss to Lin Chen will be repeatedly mentioned by domestic Martial Artists. However, if Senior Brother Huo also loses, no one will pay attention to his loss to Lin Chen anymore.
Unfortunately, facing a now Seventh Grade Huo Ruohong, Lin Chen has no chance at all.
"Huo Ruohong has already advanced to the Seventh Grade."
On the viewing platform, Murong Yan’s beautiful eyes showed a worried look. How strong Huo Ruohong was, she knew very well when gathering information on Lin Chen’s behalf, having seen Huo Ruohong’s previous combat records.
But at that time, Huo Ruohong was only an Eighth Grade. For each grade breakthrough in the Martial Arts Nine Grades, the power increase is several times greater.
At the front-most of the viewing platform, Hou Zhantian and Chen Shan exchanged glances, understanding each other’s intent.
If Lin Chen is overwhelmed and falls into danger, regardless of the rules, they must step in to protect Lin Chen. Even if it means violating regulations and the Canglan Martial Arts Academy being stripped of its ranking, it’s worth it.
"Junior Brother Lin, reaching this point, no one will question your strength anymore."
Standing below the platform, Li Yuan spoke softly, but he knew Junior Brother Lin would definitely hear it.
Huo Ruohong is too strong; admitting defeat doesn’t count as losing face.
Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. Fortunately, a few hours ago, his realm also broke through, or else facing the Seventh Grade Huo Ruohong, this battle would be truly hard to win.
Huo Ruohong’s figure hovered in mid-air, looking down from above, "Lin Chen, do you still want to fight? Admit defeat yourself, I don’t want to gain a reputation for bullying the weak. Being able to force me to use my full strength is enough for you to be proud."
Looking at the high and mighty Huo Ruohong, a smile appeared on Lin Chen’s face, "It’s not just you who hasn’t given their all."
Boom!
In the next instant, under everyone’s shocked gaze, Lin Chen’s aura began to rise as well. Within his body, the tiny figure in the Dantian spun, and within three breaths, his momentum ascended to a degree no less than Huo Ruohong’s.
PS: Asking for guaranteed monthly votes

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