97: The mutation and No. 28's first move

Suddenly, a Black-Robed Figure emerged from a Formation and rushed directly toward Lin Chuan on the stage.

The big shots sitting in their chairs all noticed the anomaly, but their reactions were completely different.

Spiritual Void Master and Jian Wenxuan, including Monk Dehai and Green Plum Spirit Child, all moved to intervene.

Several Sect leaders who had good relations with the Spirit Realm Sect also stood up instantly to intercept the Black-Robed Figure.

Seeing so many big shots taking action, the Black-Robed Figure immediately stopped his charge, turned around, and tried to flee.

Everyone immediately gave chase, wanting to intercept the escaping Black-Robed Figure.

What everyone failed to notice was that another person had quietly stepped out from another Formation; seeing that many experts had been lured away, they also rushed toward Lin Chuan.

Martial Wuling True Person noticed immediately, but for some reason, he only gave a slight smile and did not intervene.

By the time everyone noticed, the Grand Elder beside Lin Chuan had already been sent flying by a single blow, falling off the stage.

Only then did everyone realize it was a 'luring the tiger away from the mountain' tactic, and they hurriedly rushed back.

But it was too late; the Black-Robed Figure was already extremely close to Lin Chuan, clearly beyond the reach of rescue.

Just then, a flash of bright yellow light appeared. The woman who had been standing by Lin Chuan's side suddenly put her hands on her hips, and a massive light shield instantly enveloped Lin Chuan.

The Black-Robed Figure threw back his robe, and a streak of cold light shot straight for the yellow shield, intending to break the protection.

Unexpectedly, when the cold light hit the shield, it only caused a few ripples like water; the shield remained completely unharmed!

"It's Jin Yangzi of the Shadow Pavilion!" After seeing the Black-Robed Figure's attack style, some big shots had already recognized his identity.

Seeing his strike achieve nothing, Jin Yangzi threw back his robe again, and several arc-shaped streaks of cold light shot out together, crashing into the light shield with immense power and a deafening roar.

Martial Wuling True Person nodded slightly, thinking: "Hehe, this Jin Yangzi is indeed one of the twelve Elders of the Shadow Pavilion. With this bizarre attack method, even a Nascent Soul Peak expert would likely find it difficult to deal with."

The attacks crashed into the light shield, and the massive shockwave spread out directly, but it was blocked by the many experts sitting in chairs below the stage.

As the dust cleared, everyone looked up to see that the light shield was still perfectly intact; even the stage, built of ordinary stone within the shield's range, didn't have a single crack!

Jin Yangzi also showed a look of horror; he never imagined that such an expert would be by that Qi Refining kid's side!

Number 28, who was beside Lin Chuan, now stood in front of him, two orbs of light slowly rotating around her body. She looked at Jin Yangzi with a calm face.

At this time, the audience within the Formations below the stage had exploded into a frenzy. Some who had chosen the Fighter class in the Secret Realm recognized Number 28 and shouted: "Isn't that the Qigong Master from the Secret Realm? Is she really that powerful?"

Many Cultivators who had already undergone Class Advancement to Qigong Master laughed proudly: "Hahaha, look at our Qigong Master! She's so powerful that a single Nen Shield can't even be broken by a Soul Transformation expert!"

Jin Yangzi knew deep down that he probably wouldn't be able to capture Lin Chuan today, so he immediately scanned the surroundings, looking to retreat.

Unexpectedly, the woman in front of Lin Chuan suddenly made a move.

Number 28 brought her hands together at her waist, gave a soft shout, and slightly gathered her power.

In the next moment, she suddenly pushed both hands forward, and a massive white Spiritual Qi ball appeared, flying toward Jin Yangzi at extreme speed.

"It's the Accumulated Thought Cannon! What a huge Accumulated Thought Cannon!" a Cultivator who had advanced to Qigong Master shouted in surprise.

Jin Yangzi only felt the orb of Spiritual Qi crushing toward him with immense power. With no way to dodge, he could only circulate all his Spiritual Qi to condense a massive shield in front of him, hoping to tank the blow.

Martial Wuling True Person, sitting to the side, suddenly changed expression. He felt a great threat from that massive light orb and hurriedly stood up, ready at any moment to deal with the aftershocks of the battle.

The Accumulated Thought Cannon slammed into Jin Yangzi's Spiritual Qi shield without a moment's pause, shattering the shield instantly and striking Jin Yangzi's body with undiminished force.

The light of the Accumulated Thought Cannon directly swallowed Jin Yangzi's body, and in just an instant, it continued to fly backward.

Martial Wuling True Person, who happened to be right behind Jin Yangzi, panicked. He hurriedly pulled a longsword from his waist. In the next moment, a giant phantom appeared behind him, also holding a longsword, which slashed directly at the massive light orb.

With a 'boom', the phantom and the light orb dissipated together. Martial Wuling True Person gave a muffled groan and retreated two steps.

Seeing someone else take action, Number 28 immediately stepped forward and assumed a boxing stance. With every punch, phantoms of dragons and tigers faintly appeared, containing boundless power.

Martial Wuling True Person's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly put away his longsword, wanting to explain.

But then he heard Lin Chuan say softly: "That's not an enemy, come back!"

Only then did Number 28 drop her stance and bow her head: "Yes, Young Lord!" Having said that, she deactivated the Nen Shield and stood still behind Lin Chuan.

Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief before remembering to look for Jin Yangzi.

Under this single blow, Jin Yangzi's Physical Body had actually been annihilated. Only his Primordial Spirit remained, staring blankly at everyone. Seeing everyone looking at him, he finally fled in panic, turning into a streak of light and flying into the distance.

Jian Wenxuan was about to give chase, but was stopped by Spiritual Void Master: "Forget it. The Shadow Pavilion's escape techniques are also extraordinary; you won't catch him. Now that his Physical Body is annihilated, I'm afraid he won't be able to reconstruct it for another hundred years."

Martial Wuling True Person, on the other hand, seeing that the woman was so obedient to Lin Chuan and even called him Young Lord, couldn't help but fall into deep thought. He wondered about Lin Chuan's identity—what kind of status could make such an expert so submissive?

Spiritual Void Master scanned the wary gazes of the surrounding big shots and smiled secretly. It seemed that for a short time, none of these forces would dare to scheme for Lin Chuan's Secret Realm again.

Helping the Grand Elder up and seeing that his injuries weren't serious, Spiritual Void Master smiled: "Let's continue!"

The Grand Elder stepped onto the stage and smiled: "Everyone, please take your seats. A small interlude just occurred; I hope you weren't too startled."

Hearing this, the big shots below the stage all hurried to their chairs and sat down, unconsciously straightening their backs like well-behaved children, completely devoid of their initial lazy appearance.

Lin Chuan watched this and couldn't help but find it a bit amusing.

The Grand Elder gave a look and whispered to Lin Chuan: "Let them come up to the stage."

Lin Chuan nodded and announced: "Next, please welcome the fifth-place winner of the Leveling Event, Quan Wudi!"

The few people behind the stage who had witnessed the entire battle hadn't come to their senses yet. Suddenly hearing Lin Chuan's call, they hurriedly nudged Quan Wudi and said: "He's calling you! Go up quickly!"

Only then did Quan Wudi snap out of it and hurriedly walk onto the stage.

Below the stage, the leader of the Loyalty and Righteousness Alliance, Dragon Overlord, laughed loudly: "Haha, it's my Loyalty and Righteousness Alliance Disciple, Quan Zhenghao! Not bad, he really did us proud!"

Quan Wudi stood beside Lin Chuan somewhat nervously, stealing a glance at Number 28 behind Lin Chuan and quietly moving a bit further away.

Lin Chuan smiled: "Quan Wudi takes fifth place with 30% experience at Level 24. Seria, please bring up the reward."