18: The arena is full of glory, and the "weak" strikes back

The next day, dawn broke.

Qingyun Sect's Outer Sect training grounds were already bustling with activity.

The annual Outer Sect competition was today.

On the high platform, several Elders of the Sect looked solemn, among them, the figure of Zhao Linger, the chief Inner Sect Disciple, was particularly striking.

Today, she wore a crisp, light purple training outfit, her beautiful face standing out in the crowd like a crane among chickens.

But her clear, beautiful eyes kept scanning the crowded area below, as if searching for someone.

She had heard the news yesterday that Lin Gou had been seriously injured by Wang Kun in public.

But for some reason, she felt a strong sense of dissonance.

In Blackwind Valley, would that mysterious young man, who had died and revived multiple times, each time growing stronger, really fall so easily?

"First match, Zhang San versus Li Si!" the steward announced loudly, and the competition officially began.

The sounds of spiritual energy colliding and shouts rose and fell, and the atmosphere was instantly ignited.

Soon, a name was called out loudly.

"Lin Gou!"

When Lin Gou walked out from the crowd and calmly stepped onto the arena, the entire training grounds instantly fell silent.

Then, an even more explosive wave of discussion erupted!

"It's him! Lin Gou! He actually came!"

"My heavens, look at his rosy complexion and steady Aura... Does he look like someone who was beaten to near death yesterday?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I saw him being dragged away like a dead dog with my own eyes!"

"It must be fake, right? Perhaps he took some forbidden medicine that overdraws life, a final burst of energy?"

On the high platform, Zhao Linger's beautiful eyes suddenly narrowed.

She saw clearly that not only was Lin Gou completely unharmed, but the spiritual energy fluctuations around him seemed even more refined than when he was in Blackwind Valley a few days ago!

His injuries healed... and he became stronger?

This familiar recipe, this familiar taste... In a corner, Wang Kun, who was chatting and laughing with several Inner Sect Disciples, instantly froze, his smile replaced by a sinister expression.

"Hmph, he's got a tough life."

He sneered softly, his eyes full of disdain.

Just putting on an act, trying to keep up appearances!

On the arena, Lin Gou's opponent, a burly Disciple at Qi Refining Stage 5 Middle Stage, was now full of vigilance.

"Senior Brother Lin, please!" He courteously cupped his fist.

Lin Gou smiled slightly and returned the gesture.

"Please."

[Inner Monologue: Qi Refining Stage 5 Middle Stage... If I kill him, I'll probably only get a 'Trauma Ointment' as a reward, right? High risk, low reward, no, no, this one needs to be done beautifully.]

The match began.

With a low shout, the burly Disciple's fists, wrapped in earthy yellow spiritual light, struck with immense force.

Lin Gou activated his Swift Wind Steps, his figure elusive, always narrowly avoiding the punch at an extremely dangerous angle just as it was about to hit.

To outsiders, he seemed to be in constant peril, as if he would be hit any second.

"Did you see that? He's indeed strong on the outside but weak on the inside, only capable of dodging!"

"His footwork is quite good, but unfortunately, the Realm gap is there..."

Only Lin Gou himself knew he was at ease.

He even wondered if he pretended not to dodge in time and got three ribs broken by a punch, would the System classify it as C-grade or D-grade damage?

"Forget it, it's too much of a time-waster."

Lin Gou made up his mind.

The moment he once again narrowly avoided the opponent's heavy punch, a glint flashed in his eyes.

His figure advanced like a ghost, closing in on his opponent.

His right index and middle fingers joined together, swift as lightning, precisely and accurately tapping an Acupoint under the burly Disciple's ribs.

The spiritual energy at Qi Refining Stage 6 Early Stage peak, released from his fingertip, was instantly withdrawn.

The burly Disciple felt half his body instantly numb, followed by a piercing pain, and all his strength was instantly drained.

He staggered backward, his face filled with horror.

"I... I lost."

He spoke bitterly, knowing that Lin Gou had held back.

Lin Gou still wore that harmless smile.

"Thank you for the concession."

First match, won.

Below the stage, the discussions once again changed.

"Holy crap! That finger strike of his was so fast!"

"Did you guys see clearly? He seemed to use no effort at all!"

"Could the rumors be false? He wasn't injured at all yesterday, he was just playing weak to catch a tiger?"

Wang Kun's face was so dark it could drip water.

In the following rounds, Lin Gou won each time with this method of being "constantly in peril" yet "defeating the enemy in one Move."

His image of "frail and barely surviving" gradually became unfathomable in everyone's hearts.

Finally.

"Next match, Lin Gou, against, Wang Kun!"

The steward's voice was like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves.

The atmosphere of the entire venue instantly reached its climax!

The grudge match!

It's here!

Wang Kun, his face ashen, walked onto the arena, his eyes bloodshot, glaring fiercely at Lin Gou, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

"Kid, you've got a tough life, huh?" Wang Kun gritted his teeth, enunciating each word.

Lin Gou still maintained his calm and indifferent demeanor, even with a hint of grateful smile.

"It's all thanks to Senior Brother Wang's mercy yesterday. This Junior Brother of yours luckily didn't die. After lying down for a night, I feel... I've even made a slight improvement."

"Slight... im... prove... ment!"

He said these four words lightly, but they were like four slaps, harshly striking Wang Kun's face.

Wang Kun instantly broke, his rage shooting straight to his head!

"You're courting death!"

He roared, and the Aura of Qi Refining Stage 6 Early Stage burst forth with a rumble.

"Today, I'll let you know what true despair is!"

He formed hand seals, and a stream of azure spiritual energy, even more refined and violent than yesterday, tore through the air and once again blasted towards Lin Gou!

Everyone below the stage gasped.

Zhao Linger's jade hands clenched, her heart in her throat.

However, on the arena, Lin Gou did not dodge.

[Inner Monologue: Here it comes! B-grade death guaranteed! If I can die with a bit more fanfare, maybe I can touch the edge of an A-grade reward! System, give me a big one!]

Just as the azure spiritual energy was about to hit him.

Lin Gou moved.

He didn't retreat but advanced, and a spiritual energy fluctuation far more powerful and purer than Wang Kun's surged out from his body!

Qi Refining Stage 6 Early Stage peak!

He clenched his right hand into a fist, simply, and punched towards that stream of spiritual energy.

No flashy Moves.

No dazzling light and shadows.

Only pure speed to the extreme, and terrifying strength to the extreme!

Bang!!!

A dull, thunderous roar.

Under everyone's horrified gaze, Wang Kun's violent spiritual energy stream was as fragile as a piece of tofu before Lin Gou's fist.

It shattered inch by inch!

And dissipated with a rumble!

Lin Gou's punch, like a destructive force, its momentum undiminished, directly slammed into the stunned Wang Kun.

Wang Kun felt an irresistible immense force strike his chest, and his protective spiritual light instantly shattered.

He didn't even have time to scream.

His entire body, like a kite with a broken string, flew backward at an even faster speed than Lin Gou yesterday!

Thud!

Wang Kun heavily crashed below the arena, dust flying, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs, his head lolled to the side, and he completely fainted.

One Move!

Just one Move!

Yesterday's arrogant Inner Sect Disciple Wang Kun was instantly killed by Outer Sect Disciple Lin Gou with one punch!

The entire venue was dead silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was so shocked by this astonishing reversal that their minds went blank.

The Elders on the high platform were collectively speechless.

Zhao Linger's beautiful eyes were wide open, her red lips slightly parted, and a surging wave rose in her heart.

Severely injured and near death yesterday... and today he broke through a minor Realm and instantly killed his opponent with one punch?

What kind of monster... is this!

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Gou on the arena slowly retracted his fist, his face still bearing that harmless smile.

He glanced at Wang Kun, who had fainted below the stage, and gently shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of genuine "regret."

"Alas, Senior Brother Wang."

"I told you, you really misjudged yesterday."

"This strength, it's still not enough."