Grandpa's urgent phone call: If you don't participate, how will I save face!

Northern Border, ten thousand miles of frozen ice.

The sturdy figure of Lin Zhan stood tall amidst the wind and snow.

He had just torn apart a King-level Vicious Beast that tried to charge the defense line with his bare hands, and his body still carried a faint scent of bloody Evil Qi.

He was just about to sit cross-legged to regulate his breathing when his communicator rang again.

He glanced up and saw it was the number from home.

The Old God of War's brows furrowed, and he tapped to answer.

Uncle Zhong's extremely anxious old face appeared on the screen.

"Old Master, something has happened!"

After hearing Uncle Zhong's report and learning that his precious grandson was actually too lazy to even participate in the School-Wide Competition, and was being treated as a coward by the entire school, Lin Zhan's face darkened instantly.

"Nonsense!"

He roared, and the wind and snow for a hundred miles around stagnated for a moment!

"Connect the call to that brat!"

The next second, the specially made communicator on Lin Yuan's wrist began to vibrate frantically.

Lin Yuan was enjoying the iced spirit fruit handed to him by a maid when he saw the caller ID on the communicator.

He raised an eyebrow and lazily answered it.

A holographic projection appeared before him, revealing his grandfather, who was radiating intense Evil Qi.

"Yo, old man, so free today? Not killing Vicious Beasts, but coming to check on me?" Lin Yuan remained in his usual devil-may-care manner.

"You brat!"

"I heard you aren't even participating in the School-Wide Competition? What are you trying to do? Do you want to make our Lin family lose all face?!"

Seeing his attitude, Lin Zhan was so angry that his beard bristled.

"Lose face? How could that be?" Lin Yuan said dismissively. "I am actually protecting the Lin family's reputation."

"Bullshit!"

Lin Zhan raged.

"Think about it..."

"I, the grandson of the dignified Lin Zhan, the future heir of the Lin family, a peerless Genius, going to participate in a competition at the level of children playing house—wouldn't that be lowering my own status? Fighting with a bunch of kindergarteners, even if I win, does that sound good? It's too degrading!"

Lin Yuan analyzed with a straight face.

"You..."

Lin Zhan was so angered by his twisted logic that he laughed.

This kid really has a way with words.

"Stop giving me this useless talk! I don't care if it's degrading or not; you must participate in this competition today!"

Lin Zhan straightened his face, his voice becoming unquestionable.

"Why?"

Lin Yuan muttered discontentedly.

"There are three reasons!"

Lin Zhan held up three fingers.

"You are my, Lin Zhan's, grandson; you are a descendant of my Lin family! People of my Lin family can be wild and arrogant, but they must never be treated as cowards! If anyone dares to gossip, beat them until they shut up!"

"I have guarded the Northern Border for a hundred years, killing Vicious Beasts until they dare not head south, and my reputation is renowned! Yet my own grandson is being a coward at school? Where do you expect me to put my old face?!"

"And there's more..."

Lin Zhan rambled on.

Damn it...

I just wanted to lie flat and relax, is that not allowed???

No choice!

No matter what, he couldn't possibly rebel against the old man!

"Fine, fine, fine, I'll go..."

"But old man, you have to promise me, if I really take first place, you must give me full freedom. How old am I now..."

Lin Yuan was speechless.

"Fine! As long as you take first place, you can do whatever you want. If anyone dares to disturb you, I will break their legs!"

Lin Zhan agreed readily.

Hearing this, Lin Yuan's eyes lit up instantly.

No one to disturb me?

This deal is worth it!

Now even my older sister can't do anything to me!

It's just going to beat up a few kids!

Although it's a bit troublesome, for the sake of a happy life for the next month, it's worth it!

Plus, it can make the old man shut up—killing two birds with one stone.

"Deal!"

Lin Yuan immediately sat up from the lounge chair, full of energy.

"Old man, don't worry, a mere school first place is something I can easily obtain!"

"Hmph! That's more like it!"

Lin Zhan nodded with satisfaction and cut off the communication.

Lin Yuan stretched and instructed Uncle Zhong, who was standing to the side: "Uncle Zhong, go and register me late. Tell them that I, Lin Yuan, will be participating."

...

Competition venue.

Ten huge arenas were holding fierce battles simultaneously.

Spiritual power rays shone everywhere; the sounds of weapons clashing and cheers rose one after another, merging into a heat wave that soared into the sky.

However, in the center of this hustle and bustle, one person seemed out of place.

Lin Yuan was sitting in a dashing manner in the best seat of the competitor viewing area, on a soft sofa brought by someone specifically for him.

Beside him were iced spirit fruits and snacks, and there were even two beautiful maids behind him fanning him.

He wasn't watching the fights on the arenas at all, just looking at the sky in boredom, as if studying the shapes of the clouds.

This wasn't coming for a competition; it was clearly coming for a vacation.

On the other side, in Arena One, Ye Xuan was slaughtering everyone.

He was like a tiger released from its cage.

In several consecutive matches, almost all the opponents he encountered were defeated by him in one move—clean, neat, and without any hesitation.

"Holy crap! This Ye Xuan is too fierce!"

"His progress is too fast! I remember a few months ago, he was only at the Marrow Cleansing Realm First Level, right? Now this Aura feels unfathomable!"

"What Realm is he actually at? Does anyone know?"

...

In the audience, exclamations rose one after another.

Ye Xuan used his overwhelming strength to quickly attract the attention of the entire audience.

Soon, he faced a new opponent.

The person was named Wang Hao, a famous little playboy in the academy with a wealthy family.

He loved to hang around behind Lin Yuan, and because of this, he always looked down on Ye Xuan, who was from a commoner background.

Wang Hao's cultivation was a solid Marrow Cleansing Realm Fourth Level.

As soon as he got on the stage, he pointed his chin at Ye Xuan and said arrogantly: "Ye Xuan, I advise you to roll off now, so you don't get beaten up too ugly later and cry while going home to find your mommy!"

Ye Xuan remained expressionless, his eyes cold.

"It seems that since Lin Yuan didn't come, you lackeys have jumped out first."

"How dare you!"

"What kind of thing are you to be worthy of calling Brother Yuan's name directly? Today I will let you know that there is an impassable chasm between commoners and us nobles!"

Wang Hao was furious.

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly released his Aura.

Marrow Cleansing Realm Fourth Level!

That powerful pressure made many students off-stage change their expressions.

And Ye Xuan, at the same time, released his own cultivation.

Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level!

"Hahaha!"

Wang Hao saw Ye Xuan's Realm and acted as if he had heard a huge joke, laughing until he bent over.

"A mere Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level? I thought you had made great progress! With just this bit of strength, you dare to be arrogant in front of me? Get down!"

He laughed wildly, his figure moved, and a fierce "Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain Fist" was smashed towards Ye Xuan's face.

The wind from the fist surged, carrying full confidence, as if he had already seen the scene of Ye Xuan being sent flying by his punch.

However, facing this menacing punch, Ye Xuan didn't even blink.

Just as the fist wind was about to hit him, he moved.

There were no fancy moves, just a simple punch to meet it.

But this punch carried a domineering will that was unstoppable and crushed everything!

"You don't know what's good for you!"

Seeing that he dared to go head-to-head, the disdain on Wang Hao's face grew stronger.

Bang—!

The two fists collided, making a dull, loud noise.

The scene of Ye Xuan being sent flying as expected did not appear.

Instead, the smile on Wang Hao's face froze instantly.

Then...

it turned into endless terror!

A terrifying force that could not be resisted came from the opponent's fist.

It destroyed his protective spiritual power like dry weeds and rotten wood, and shattered the bones of his arm!

"Snap!"

The crisp sound of bones breaking echoed across the arena!

"Ah—!"

Wang Hao let out a shrill scream.

His whole body, like a kite with a broken string, flew backward and fell heavily under the arena.

He spat blood and passed out instantly.

One strike, instant kill!

The whole venue instantly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone's eyes widened, mouths open wide enough to fit a fist, and their faces were full of disbelief.

"I... I didn't see wrong, right? Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level... one-shot killed a Marrow Cleansing Realm Fourth Level?"

"How is this possible! This is no longer challenging a higher level; this is crushing across levels!"

"Monster! This Ye Xuan is a real monster!"

After a brief silence, there was a roar of uproar like a mountain and sea!

"Looking at it this way, doesn't he have a chance to win first place?"

"Hard to say, Lin Yuan hasn't appeared yet! He is at the Marrow Cleansing Realm Sixth Level!"

"So what? Ye Xuan can crush the Fourth Level at the Second Level, and against the Sixth Level, he might not lack the power to fight! This competition is going to be interesting!"

"Exactly! And I don't know if Young Master Lin is still going to participate!"

"Maybe he sensed that Ye Xuan's strength was too strong in advance, so he didn't dare to come to the competition!"

...

The audience discussed excitedly.

Their eyes looking at Ye Xuan were full of infinite anticipation.

Subsequently, the matches in other arenas were equally exciting.

Gu Ningxue's posture was elegant, and her "Falling Snow Sword Technique" was used to perfection, easily defeating her opponent and drawing cheers.

Li Xuan'er also stepped onto the arena.

Her opponent was a senior student at the Marrow Cleansing Realm Third Level.

Facing an enemy of the same level, although she won with some difficulty, she ultimately achieved victory by relying on a more exquisite Cultivation Technique.

However, her face no longer held its usual arrogance, but instead carried a hint of complexity and desolation.

Ye Xuan's strength made her both happy and feeling a trace of inexplicable loss and panic.

...

On the stage.

Ye Xuan stood tall and proud.

His gaze was like a bolt of lightning, fixed steadily on a leisurely figure in the audience.

Lin Yuan... are you really not participating in the competition?

In his heart, endless anger surged.

If he truly could not defeat Lin Yuan on this arena, Ye Xuan's mind would never be at peace.

That was his Heart Demon!

A complete and utter Heart Demon!

However, just at this moment.

Over the broadcast, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Now broadcasting a notice: Student Lin Yuan will be participating in the School-Wide Competition through late registration!"

In an instant, everyone who heard the news stopped what they were doing.

They all looked at Lin Yuan in unison.

Their faces were full of shock.

That man, he was back!