Chapter 19: I, Lin Chen, Challenge You!

"I have no other path left to take now!"

Lin Chen’s voice was calm. "To heal my sister, I must rely on the strength of a master from the Lihuo Sect. Only by becoming a disciple of that sect can I earn the right to request such aid. The cold poison within her grows increasingly severe; without a high-level master to purge it, I fear... she will not be able to hold on much longer."

Every plan he had for the future was crystal clear.

Lin Chen knew exactly what he needed.

Joining the Lihuo Sect would not only help him save his sister but would also provide him with sanctuary from the pursuit of the Wind Sword Sect. Outside of the Lihuo Sect, there was no other sect within these five nations that could securely hold an advantage over the Wind Sword Sect.

In the imperial capital, the plaza was a cacophony of sound. Tens of thousands of onlookers waited for the outcome of this battle. Both Su Cheng and Zhao Long were the pride of the Great Cang Kingdom. With their natural talent, they could have easily chosen to join other sects long ago.

But they had not. They were waiting—waiting for this very tournament held by the Lihuo Sect.

Upon the arena floor stood two figures, proud as dragons: Zhao Long and Su Cheng.

"Zhao Long, your strength is commendable, but unfortunately, there is only one spot in the Lihuo Sect," Su Cheng said, a flicker of coldness crossing his brow. "I am determined to take this spot today. If you withdraw now, you might spare yourself some physical pain."

Zhao Long replied without a hint of politeness, "I have long heard that the Seventh Prince’s Silver-Light Profound Elephant is incredibly formidable. Today, I intend to experience it for myself!"

The energy between them crackled like lightning, sharp as needles, both filled with intense fighting spirit.

On the main platform sat a youth with delicate, effeminate features. He was Xu Kun, an outer-sect elder of the Lihuo Sect, specifically tasked with overseeing the recruitment tournament in the Great Cang Kingdom. Beside him sat Zhao Wuji and an elderly palace eunuch of considerable power.

Xu Kun glanced at the time and said indifferently, "The final match, begin."

"Boom!"

With a thunderous sound, both men summoned their phantom beasts.

Su Cheng’s phantom beast was a fourth-rank Silver-Light Profound Elephant, standing tall and imposing like a mountain. Zhao Long’s was a fourth-rank Wind-Blade Swift Leopard, its back adorned with a long mane that exuded a sharp, piercing aura.

"Only fourth-rank? Sigh, that’s a bit disappointing."

"Indeed, I thought at least one of them would have a fifth-rank phantom beast!"

"This reminds me of Lin Chen. He rode his Crimson-Rage Blood Wolf and slaughtered a hundred thousand enemies in a single city. How majestic that was!"

"What a shame for such a talent to resort to cheating!"

The audience whispered among themselves. They had expected this final to be more intense than it was.

However, reality left them slightly let down. The prodigies of the Great Cang Kingdom generally possessed fourth-rank phantom beasts. It seemed that only Su Huanxue and Lin Chen had managed to evolve theirs to the fifth rank. Standing in this same imperial plaza, the crowd could not help but compare Zhao Long and Su Cheng to Lin Chen, whose reputation had been destroyed just days ago. By comparison, they were clearly lacking.

"Wait!"

Just as the two were about to clash, a low voice echoed from the distance. The crowd parted, revealing the figure of a young man. He wore a bamboo hat that obscured his face, but his entire being radiated an unimaginable, baleful aura. His steps were as vigorous as a dragon’s and as steady as a mountain. As he approached, a heavy pressure weighed upon the hearts of all who watched.

"Who... who is that?" Some of the onlookers gasped in shock.

Even on the platform, powerful figures like Xu Kun, Zhao Wuji, and the old eunuch furrowed their brows, staring at the newcomer.

The youth slowly raised his head. Beneath the bamboo hat, his eyes were cold and filled with a blood-red light—fierce, domineering, like an ancient beast. The killing intent within his gaze seemed to pierce straight into the soul, leaving onlookers shivering.

What intense malice! What potent killing intent!

"It’s you! Lin Chen!" Zhao Wuji was the first to react. Startled at first, he then sneered, "What are you doing here? You were driven out of the capital like a stray dog only days ago—how do you have the face to return?"

Lin Chen!

At the mention of the name, many in the crowd were stunned. It was him! Once the greatest prodigy of the Great Cang Kingdom! Since the age of thirteen, he had ridden his Crimson-Rage Blood Wolf to fight for his family and his nation, creating countless miracles with his own hands. Yet, after heading to the Spirit Path, he had been cast back, his phantom beast slaughtered and his cultivation crippled by the sect master of the Wind Sword Sect, Feng Bumie, on charges of cheating!

That day, in this very plaza, Zhao Wuji had personally judged Lin Chen, stripping him of his titles and erasing all his glory. Ultimately, it was Lin Ning'er who had carried him back to their family. Everyone thought he would spend the rest of his life in mediocrity, yet here he was, back again!

"According to the rules, anyone may register for this tournament," Lin Chen said, his voice steady and deliberate. "I, Lin Chen, declare my entry into this tournament! I am here to compete for the spot in the Lihuo Sect."

"You truly have no idea how high the sky is or how deep the earth!" Zhao Wuji laughed wildly. "Your phantom beast is dead, your cultivation is ruined—you are no different from a cripple. And yet you dare to enter the arena? Hahaha, what are you going to do, go up there and make a fool of yourself?"

The other spectators echoed this sentiment.

"I saw it with my own eyes a few days ago! His bones were shattered, he looked so miserable!"

"Does he not know when to learn from his wounds?"

"He deserves it. He cheated and got what was coming to him, yet he still refuses to accept Princess Xue’s mercy!"

"Arrogant and incompetent, he still thinks he's the number one prodigy of the Great Cang Kingdom!"

Most of the audience looked upon Lin Chen with malice. After all, watching a once-lofty prodigy fall into the abyss brought them a sense of perverse pleasure.

"Lin Chen, I have heard of you," Xu Kun said slowly. "You have talent, but unfortunately, your phantom beast is not of the fire attribute! Had it been, our Lihuo Sect would have certainly invited you to become an inner-sect disciple."

Those invited by the sect became inner-sect disciples, enjoying treatment far superior to those in the outer sect. While outer-sect disciples had more freedom and fewer restrictions, even the smallest scrap was still meat. This was why Zhao Long and Su Cheng were fighting to the death for that single outer-sect spot.

Lin Chen ignored the words of the crowd. His gaze remained cold and composed. "I am here to compete. Do you dare to face me?"

He stood tall, like an peerless sword. The youth was sharp, his aura piercing!

"Lin Chen!" the old eunuch hissed maliciously. "This is no place for your antics. Get out of the capital at once!"

"What, are you afraid?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, his tone filled with disdain. "Su Cheng, Zhao Long—do you... actually dare not accept the challenge of a 'cripple' like me?"

"Insolent!" Zhao Long roared. "Lin Chen, you are... asking for death!"

Behind him, the Wind-Blade Swift Leopard’s eyes turned even gloomier, its killing intent surging.

Zhao Wuji’s expression shifted, and he sneered, "Long, since he is determined to die, grant his wish!"

He had missed the chance to finish him off last time. This time, he would kill Lin Chen right here and now, once and for all.