Deathly silence.
A pin drop could be heard in the martial arts arena. Thousands of eyes were fixed on the central stage, focused on the proudly standing figure and the collapsed Zhao Long.
Instant kill!
Another clean, instant kill!
The opponent was Zhao Long, the notorious outer sect master, at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining!
This stark contrast caused everyone's minds to momentarily blank. If Lin Xuan's previous victories had been based on skill and trickery, then now, with absolute dominance, he shattered Zhao Long's defenses and his ultimate moves with a single finger, instantly crushing him. This display of overwhelming strength was undeniable!
"Lin... Lin Xuan wins! This outer sect competition's champion, Lin Xuan!" The referee's voice, with a barely perceptible tremor, announced the result.
Boom!
The silence was broken, and a tremendous uproar swept across the martial arts arena like a tsunami!
"The champion! It's actually Lin Xuan!"
"How the hell did he do it? That finger... it was terrifying!"
"Zhao Long was defeated without even using his ultimate move? This Lin Xuan's strength must be close to the ninth level of Qi Refining, right?"
"Monster! A true monster! Three years of silence, then a stunning debut!"
Exclamations, discussions, and gasps of disbelief mingled, everyone's eyes filled with shock, awe, and an indescribable complexity. The once easily bullied loser now stood at the pinnacle of the Outer Sect!
Zhang Xiaoshan jumped up in the audience, waving his fists, his face flushed red, eager to tell the world that it was his Senior Brother Lin!
On the high platform, Elder Li's hand, stroking his beard, paused mid-air. His eyes gleamed, and he whispered to himself, "Such fierce finger power, such precise timing! This boy's insight into battle far surpasses his peers... The artistic conception contained in that finger technique is something even I find difficult to fathom..."
Liu Yunyan's cold eyes fixed on the figure on the ring, her red lips slightly pursed. She wondered if she had suppressed her cultivation to the Qi Refining stage, facing Zhao Long's well-prepared "Earth Wave Impact" with such ease, she might not have been able to defeat it so easily. The mystery surrounding this Lin Xuan was growing thicker.
On the ring, Lin Xuan slowly withdrew his finger, his face slightly pale. That finger move, seemingly simple, actually condensed his entire understanding and application of the deadly power of the "Nine Deaths Nirvana Sutra," requiring immense mental and spiritual effort. He leaned over and untied Zhao Long's storage bag from his waist. With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he removed dozens of low-grade spirit stones and several bottles of low-level elixirs from it, placing them in his own arms. He casually tossed the empty bag back at Zhao Long.
This was the unspoken rule of the sect's competition: the winner was entitled to a portion of the loser's spoils.
His movements were perfectly natural, yet they made the audience's eyes twitch. This Lin Xuan, not only was he incredibly powerful, but he also acted so... unscrupulously!
Soon, law enforcement disciples came on stage and carried the unconscious Zhao Long off to receive medical attention. Zhao Hu and the others looked at Lin Xuan, their eyes filled with fear and resentment, but they dared not approach him again.
Next came the awards ceremony. The presiding deacon personally handed Lin Xuan the prize for winning the competition—a bottle of ten "Qi Gathering Pills," one hundred low-grade spirit stones, and a chance to enter the "Star Hall" for a day of training.
Qi Gathering Pills can accelerate Qi Refining cultivation. One hundred low-grade spirit stones are a huge sum for a struggling outer disciple. The Star Hall, however, is a treasured site within the Qingyang Sect that gathers the power of the stars and accelerates cultivation. Access is usually restricted to inner disciples or those with meritorious service.
"Lin Xuan, you are exceptionally gifted. I hope you will diligently cultivate, quickly establish your foundation, and bring honor to the sect." The presiding deacon looked at Lin Xuan and offered mixed encouragement.
"Thank you, deacon." Lin Xuan calmly accepted the pill, unfazed by praise or criticism.
At that moment, he officially replaced Zhao Long as the new leader of the Qingyang Sect's outer sect! His fame spread throughout the outer sect!
The competition concluded, and the crowd gradually dispersed, but the discussion about Lin Xuan intensified.
Lin Xuan and Zhang Xiaoshan were about to return to their residence when a voice called out to him.
"Junior Brother Lin, please stay."
Lin Xuan turned and saw Liu Yunyan had arrived not far behind him. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a soft glow across her fair face, making it seem less cold and more lively.
"Senior Sister Liu," Lin Xuan nodded slightly.
Liu Yunyan walked up to him, her clear eyes fixed on him. "Congratulations, Junior Brother Lin, on winning first place."
"It was just luck."
"It wasn't luck," Liu Yunyan shook her head, her tone firm. "Your combat awareness and skills far surpass those of your peers. I'm curious, what was that finger technique you used to defeat Zhao Long?"
It had indeed arrived. Lin Xuan understood that this senior sister had always harbored doubts about her "adventure." He continued with his previous explanation: "It's a killer move recorded in the Remaining Body Refining Art, called the 'Nirvana Finger.' It requires a special mental method and consumes a great deal of energy."
"Nirvana Finger..." Liu Yunyan repeated softly. The name carried a sense of resolve, fitting the domineering, deadly aura that Lin Xuan exuded when he used it. She was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Junior Brother Lin, with your abilities, remaining in the Outer Sect is a waste of talent. I would like to recommend you to our master, Elder Zhou, the head of the Sect's Transmission Pavilion. Perhaps I can make an exception and promote you to the Inner Sect. Are you willing?"
At these words, Zhang Xiaoshan, standing beside him, was instantly delighted! The Inner Sect! That's the place every Outer Sect disciple dreams of! The resources, environment, and status are worlds apart!
However, Lin Xuan didn't immediately agree. Entering the Inner Sect was inevitable, but he didn't want to be "recommended." This would label him as an elder early on, depriving him of some autonomy. Furthermore, he held too many secrets, and being too close to higher-ups when his strength wasn't strong enough wasn't a good idea.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Liu, for your kindness." Lin Xuan bowed, his tone sincere yet firm. "My foundation is still shallow. I'd like to consolidate my position in the Outer Sect for a while, relying on my own strength to pass the next Inner Sect exam. I'll always remember your kindness in recommending me."
Liu Yunyan was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Lin Xuan to refuse such a great offer. She gave Lin Xuan a deep look, and in the young man's eyes, she saw not arrogance, but a deep confidence and composure.
"Since you've made up your mind, I won't force you." Liu Yunyan nodded. "The Inner Sect exam will be in six months. I hope you'll prepare well. If you have any questions about your cultivation, please come to the Transmission Pavilion to see me or Elder Li."
"Yes, thank you, Senior Sister."
Liu Yunyan said no more, turned, and left, her white clothes as white as snow, her figure gradually receding into the distance.
After Liu Yunyan had walked away, Zhang Xiaoshan impatiently asked, "Senior Brother Lin, you... why did you refuse? That's the Inner Sect!"
Lin Xuan glanced at him and said calmly, "I will go to the Inner Sect. But I have to fight my way in. Relying on others is ultimately an external path."
Zhang Xiaoshan seemed to understand, but he felt that what Senior Brother Lin said made sense.
The two returned to the dilapidated woodshed. Unlike before, the outer disciples they met along the way, whether they knew him or not, would greet Lin Xuan with respect, their eyes filled with awe. No one dared to show any disdain.
The woodshed was still shabby, but Lin Xuan knew this was only temporary. He sat cross-legged on the bed, taking stock of his gains. The Qi Gathering Pills and Spirit Stones awarded by the competition, combined with what he had received from Zhao Long, had finally freed him from his destitution.
He gave some of the Qi Gathering Pills and Spirit Stones to Zhang Xiaoshan and urged him to practice diligently. Zhang Xiaoshan burst into tears of gratitude and vowed to never let Senior Brother Lin down.
The night deepened.
Lin Xuan clutched a low-grade spirit stone, practicing the "Nine Deaths Nirvana Sutra," and began absorbing its pure spiritual energy. The spiritual energy within the spirit stone was far richer than the air itself, flowing into his meridians, where it was refined into a unique spiritual power imbued with both a sense of death and new life, nourishing his body and stabilizing his cultivation.
He could sense that after the series of battles, especially the ultimate pressure of the "Nirvana Finger" at the end, the bottleneck in his cultivation had loosened, and he was only one step away from breaking through to the seventh level of Qi Refining.
Becoming the leader of the outer sect was just the beginning. His goal was to quickly recover his strength, uncover the mystery of his rebirth, and... to reclaim everything from the so-called "Heavenly Dao Alliance"!
Just as Lin Xuan was immersed in his cultivation, his keen senses suddenly detected a faint sound of footsteps outside the woodshed, almost blending in with the night breeze.
It wasn't Zhang Xiaoshan.
The footsteps paused outside his woodshed, as if confirming something. Then, a barely perceptible, cold spiritual awareness, like a venomous snake, silently entered, attempting to peer inside!
Lin Xuan's eyes suddenly opened, a cold glint flashing in them!
Someone was lurking outside! And this spiritual awareness was definitely not that of an outer disciple!