I'm ready to fight, and you're telling me you're not going to participate?

Under the watchful eyes of the masses, the annual School-Wide Competition of the Dragon Summer Country Capital Martial Arts Academy officially began.

The entire academy was plunged into an unprecedented atmosphere of fanaticism.

The massive Central Martial Arts Field was bustling with noise and fluttering banners.

Countless students and representatives from various factions who had heard the news focused their attention here.

For the students, this was the best stage to become famous in a single battle.

If one could stand out in the competition, they would not only receive massive resource rewards provided by the academy but also potentially be scouted early by the Dragon Summer Country military, The Elder Council, or major top-tier financial magnates, rising to the top from then on.

At the registration desk, Ye Xuan stood tall, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

He clenched his fists, feeling the surging Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level spiritual energy within his body, his heart filled with soaring Battle Intent.

Lin Yuan!

He swore that on this stage under the watchful eyes of everyone, he would ruthlessly crush that guy beneath his feet.

He would return all the humiliation that had been inflicted upon him a hundredfold!

He wanted everyone to see who was truly the one chosen by destiny!

He stood there like a javelin ready to be launched, his eyes fixed on the registration passage, waiting for that familiar figure to appear... However, time passed minute by minute.

From dawn to dusk, the registration passage was about to close, and Ye Xuan's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Where was he?

Why hadn't that guy Lin Yuan arrived yet?

"Registration closed!"

With a loud shout from the teacher in charge, the registration passage slowly closed.

Ye Xuan looked at the empty passage, completely stunned.

In disbelief, he rushed to the registration list and checked it carefully three times from beginning to end.

Nothing!

Lin Yuan's name wasn't there at all!

That guy... he didn't even register!

"Pfft—"

Ye Xuan felt a surge of blood rush to his head, a sweetness in his throat; he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He felt like a top-tier boxing champion who had meticulously prepared for months, gathering all his strength and striking the coolest pose, only for his opponent to not even show up in the ring!

This punch had landed squarely on cotton!

No, it had hit thin air!

That kind of frustration and powerlessness made him nearly go insane!

"Why?"

He unwillingly grabbed a passing student and asked, "Where is Lin Yuan? Why isn't he participating in the competition?"

The student was startled by him and stammered an answer, "Young... Young Master Lin? He... he seems to be sleeping in the back garden..."

Sleeping?!

Ye Xuan could no longer suppress the anger in his heart. He turned like a crazed bull and charged toward the back garden.

Sure enough, he immediately saw the figure that made his teeth itch with hatred.

Lin Yuan was lying under that familiar ancient tree.

Pillowing his arms, he was sleeping soundly, a hint of a pleasant smile even hanging on the corner of his mouth, as if he were having a beautiful dream.

"Lin Yuan!!!"

Ye Xuan's roar was like a clap of thunder, making the surrounding leaves tremble.

Lin Yuan was woken up and rubbed his eyes impatiently.

Looking at the red-faced, trembling guy in front of him, he asked lazily, "What's with all the shouting? Don't you know it's very impolite to disturb someone's sleep?"

"I'm asking you!" Ye Xuan pointed at his nose, his voice trembling, "Why aren't you participating in the School-Wide Competition?!"

Lin Yuan looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Why should I participate?"

"You... don't you want to prove yourself? Don't you want to have a showdown with me?"

"Prove myself?" Lin Yuan sneered and lay back down. "To whom do I need to prove anything? As for you..."

He paused, his tone flat but filled with extreme contempt.

"You don't have the qualifications to make me interested yet."

Ye Xuan froze completely.

He realized that all his efforts, all his anger, and all his unwillingness were like a joke in front of this guy who had completely given up on trying.

You can never use provocation to stimulate someone who doesn't care about winning or losing at all.

You can never defeat an opponent who simply won't fight you.

An unprecedented sense of powerlessness submerged Ye Xuan like a tide.

For the first time, he discovered that he actually had no way of dealing with this guy... The news that Lin Yuan was not participating in the School-Wide Competition was like a heavy bomb, instantly detonating within the academy.

The entire campus forum was paralyzed once again.

"Shocking news! Lin Yuan withdrew! He actually didn't register!"

"What's the situation? Wasn't he very arrogant a while ago? How did he chicken out as soon as things got real?"

"I told you, he must be afraid! He knows he definitely can't beat Ye Xuan, who has been Cultivating desperately, so he just decided to be a coward!"

"Forget it, would Young Master Lin at Marrow Cleansing Realm Sixth Level be afraid of a Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level?"

"You can't say that. Although Ye Xuan is at Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level, I heard he is exceptionally talented and powerful, always able to challenge those at higher levels! Who knows if he can defeat Young Master Lin?"

"Hiss... could it be that Young Master Lin really talked too much and is afraid Ye Xuan will stand up for the great school beauty Li on the stage?"

...Various rumors spread among the students.

Among them, there was no lack of mocking voices.

After all, as a well-known playboy in the school, besides the lackeys who followed him, Lin Yuan also had many enemies.

The students who were previously intimidated by Lin Yuan's powerful aura began to surface again, with various speculations and ridicules reaching a crescendo.

In their view, fleeing before a battle was more shameful than being defeated... In the girls' dormitory.

Li Xuan'er looked at the news on the forum, a satisfied, cold smile appearing on her face.

"I knew it!"

"He's just an empty shell! He only knows how to act tough with his words. When it's time to speak with strength, his true colors are revealed!"

She said to her roommates beside her.

She felt that the resentment from being publicly humiliated by Lin Yuan earlier had finally been vented.

Weren't you very arrogant? Didn't you say Ye Xuan wasn't worthy?

Now, how come you don't even have the courage to compete on the same stage as Ye Xuan?

Coward!

In Li Xuan'er's heart, her disdain for Lin Yuan deepened a bit more, while her confidence in Ye Xuan became even more sufficient.

On the other side of the academy, Gu Ningxue also saw these messages.

She frowned slightly, always feeling that things were not that simple.

Based on the personality of Lin Yuan she had felt that day, he was definitely not someone who would retreat because of fear.

In that man's bones, there was an arrogance that disregarded everything.

Driven by curiosity, she once again came to the ancient tree in the back garden.

Lin Yuan was still lying there, as if the stormy waves of the outside world had nothing to do with him.

"You really are calm!"

Gu Ningxue stood beside him.

She crossed her arms and looked down at him, "Now the whole school is saying you're a coward and that you're afraid of Ye Xuan. Don't you want to explain?"

Lin Yuan didn't even open his eyes, only replying lazily, "Explain? Why should I explain?"

"You... you're just going to let them talk about you like that?"

Gu Ningxue was amused by his stubborn attitude.

Lin Yuan finally opened his eyes.

He sat up, looked at Gu Ningxue calmly, and asked back, "Would a lion care about the opinions of a flock of sheep?"

"Do you think I need to prove my strength to a group of ants?"

There was no ripple in those pitch-black eyes, yet they exuded a heart-palpitating dominance and confidence.

Gu Ningxue's heart skipped a beat for no reason.

She looked at this man who was clearly "slackng off" yet was more arrogant than anyone else, and for a moment, she was actually speechless.

Yes, with the status of his Lin family and his own strength, he indeed... didn't need to prove anything to anyone... Lin Family Manor.

The old butler, Uncle Zhong, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth in the living room.

He already knew all about the rumors in the academy.

His young master was being called a "coward" and a "shrinking turtle" by the whole school. This was not only damage to the young master's own reputation but also affected the face of the Lin family!

He had just gone to try and persuade him again, but the young master only replied with "Don't bother me, I want to sleep," which almost gave him a heart attack.

"Sigh! Young master, oh young master! How can you be so unconcerned!"

Uncle Zhong sighed to the heavens, knowing that he definitely couldn't persuade him on his own.

In desperation, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

It seemed he could only call upon that great deity!

He dialed that number once again.

The light flickered, and the video connected.

Uncle Zhong straightened his collar and bowed respectfully toward the other end.

"Old Master, something has happened!"