Chapter 240: Then Let Strength Do the Talking!
Lin Fan met the countless eager gazes around him with a calm nod, then turned his attention toward the arena.
There, a familiar slender figure stood—her long black ponytail gently arcing over her soft waist. It was none other than Ying Huanhuan, the girl who had once made a bet with him.
In front of her, the familiar emerald guqin had been summoned again—clearly, her opponent this time was no pushover.
Across from her stood another woman, dressed in red. Tall and strikingly beautiful, her slightly raised eyebrows made her arrogance all too clear. She held a coiled red whip in hand, writhing like a fire serpent. It radiated strong energy, clearly a high-grade Heaven-tier spirit weapon.
"She's called Song Yan. One of the top three young elites of Hongya Cave. Just recently broke through to the Eighth Nirvana Stage," Mo Ling explained quietly beside Lin Fan.
Lin Fan nodded slightly, saying nothing.
After returning to the sect last time, Ying Huanhuan had also advanced to the Eighth Nirvana Stage. With her abilities, she should be able to handle this fight.
Lin Fan's gaze wandered across the battlefield and eventually locked onto a black-clad youth from Hongya Cave, arms folded across his chest.
His aura was similar to what Lin Fan had sensed from Luo Yi and Xiao Tian—likely at the peak of the Eighth Nirvana Stage.
"That's Huo Zhen, Hongya Cave's strongest among the younger generation. Rumor says he's close to breaking into the Ninth Nirvana Stage," Mo Ling added. "He's the only one from their side who hasn't fought yet."
As the two spoke, Dao Sect disciples, energized by Lin Fan's arrival, parted to give him a clear view at the front of the crowd.
His presence caused quite a stir.
On the other side, Hongya Cave's disciples also turned to look, their eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Who's that guy? Never heard of him among the top disciples of Dao Sect's Four Halls."
They couldn't understand how someone with such clear prestige had escaped their notice.
Even Huo Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly. For some reason, he couldn't see through Lin Fan's strength.
"What's wrong, Senior Brother Huo?" a disciple nearby asked.
"Nothing," Huo Zhen replied softly, saying no more.
Back in the arena, Ying Huanhuan heard the murmurs and looked over—spotting Lin Fan standing at the edge of the crowd.
Others may not have noticed, but Lin Fan saw it clearly: her previously sharp gaze softened slightly.
Still, she didn't want to show it.
She only glanced at him for a moment before refocusing on her fight with Song Yan.
The duel between the two women was indeed quite intense.
After dozens of exchanges, Ying Huanhuan suddenly quickened her guqin's tempo. Her eyes glinted coldly as she launched her counter.
"Formless Bodhi Melody—Bodhi Laugh!"
Green soundwaves exploded from the guqin, forming a vague, giant shadow behind her that seemed to laugh toward the sky. Then, a piercing spiral of sonic force blasted toward Song Yan like thunder.
Caught off guard, Song Yan hastily drew back her whip, forming concentric circles of crimson light in defense.
BOOM!
The spiraling soundwave smashed through her barriers one by one, forcing her to stagger backward in a panic.
Just as she barely steadied herself, Ying Huanhuan plucked another string.
Whoosh!
A bolt of green light shot out like an arrow, piercing through the air toward Song Yan—too fast for her to block.
At that moment, Huo Zhen furrowed his brow and moved. In a flash, he appeared before Song Yan and flicked the incoming light gently with one finger.
CLANG!
The green light was instantly deflected—but instead of dissipating, it rebounded even faster toward Ying Huanhuan!
Right then, Lin Fan, already prepared, stepped forward. His hand sliced through the air, releasing a formless shockwave.
SHHH!
The green light twisted and rebounded once more—this time slamming straight into Huo Zhen's shoulder with a sharp crack.
Ying Huanhuan blinked in surprise, staring at Lin Fan's familiar figure now in front of her—just like back during the battle for the Immortal Essence Seed.
"Friendly sparring is one thing, but interfering mid-match and attacking a girl? That's a bit uncultured, don't you think?" Lin Fan said calmly, retracting his hand and gazing at Huo Zhen.
Huo Zhen's face darkened from the impact. At Lin Fan's words, a sneer twisted his lips.
"Who are you to talk about manners?" he spat coldly.
"Oh?" Lin Fan smiled faintly. "Then let's let strength do the talking."
"This kind of duel isn't for every back-alley brawler. Maybe you should check with your elders first," Huo Zhen scoffed.
But just as his mocking tone fell, the Dao Sect disciples around them burst into laughter.
Huo Zhen frowned and turned to see everyone looking at him with amusement, as if he'd said something absurd.
Ying Huanhuan stood quietly with her guqin in hand, her long hair flowing down her chest—radiating a rare and gentle calm.
"Hmph. I thought you weren't going to show up," she said, breaking the mood with a pout.
"Since you're here, this last match is yours. Should be an easy win for you, right? If you lose… hmph hmph…" she added with a teasing glare.
Before Lin Fan could respond, she patted him on the shoulder and skipped off the platform, leaving her words hanging in the air.
Lin Fan chuckled. "Since someone offered their face so generously, it would be rude not to slap it a few times."
"Heh, I like that," Ying Huanhuan giggled. Then, realizing what she said, her cheeks turned pink. She quickly composed herself, waved, and called out, "All yours!"
She hurried off the stage, patting her flushed cheeks as she joined the Dao Sect crowd.
Lin Fan shook his head, smiling, and turned to Chen Zhen. "Uncle Chen, I'll take the fifth match."
"Go ahead," Chen Zhen said with a calm smile, then turned to the Hongya Cave elders. "This is Lin Fan of the Desolate Hall."
At the mention of his name, the Hongya Cave elders stiffened slightly.
They had all heard of the Bloodrock Incident.
Without waiting for their reactions, Lin Fan looked at Huo Zhen and beckoned with a finger.
"Come on then."
A chill flashed through Huo Zhen's eyes. "Then I won't hold back."
He took a step forward—exploding with violent Yuan Power like a tidal wave—and disappeared into a black blur.
"Cave Mountain Fist!"
His punch, fierce enough to shatter mountains, tore through the air as he struck at Lin Fan with full force.
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