43: Thick earth meets chaos, and the powerful energy of Zhao Kun arrives.

The morning mist had completely dispersed, and the rising sun made the Training Grounds' bluestone slabs hot to the touch. Chu He stood in the center of the arena, carrying the black iron shield. Earth Element True Essence, colored earthy yellow, slowly circulated along the shield's surface, casting a heavy shadow on the ground. He wasn't in a hurry to move, just looking at Lin Yang, his voice softer than before: "I know you are very strong, but my Thick Earth Shield has never been broken."

Lin Yang nodded. The chaos star core rapidly circulated within his Dantian. He could clearly perceive that Chu He's True Essence was completely different from his previous opponents. Earth Element True Essence was already known for its stability, but Chu He's True Essence was also mixed with the wildness of a Vicious Beast's Inner Core, adding resilience to the Thick Earth Shield. "I will do my best." Lin Yang's tone was serious; he respected this opponent who had fought his way up to the Peak of the Fourth Layer of Xiantian Realm.

"Begin!"

As soon as Zhang Yuan's voice fell, Chu He slammed the black iron shield onto the ground. "Boom!" A flash of earthy yellow light instantly expanded, wrapping him inside like a protective cover. Even the bluestone slabs beneath his feet developed fine earth patterns. This was the ultimate form of the Thick Earth Shield; it could reflect thirty percent of external force, and an ordinary attack from the Fourth Layer of Xiantian Realm would struggle even to make it shake. Chu He held a short blade, moving slowly around Lin Yang, his gaze as sharp as a hawk, searching for an Opportunity to attack.

Lin Yang stood still, Chaos True Essence condensing into a fist in his palm. He abruptly charged at Chu He, his fist carrying gray-gold light, smashing heavily onto the Thick Earth Shield. "Bang!" With a dull thud, the light aura shook violently. Lin Yang felt a recoil force travel up his fist, slightly numbing his arm. "It really can reflect force." Lin Yang understood, and the chaos star core began frantically deducing the Thick Earth Shield's weakness.

Chu He seized the Opportunity. His short blade, wrapped in Earth Element True Essence, stabbed directly at Lin Yang's waist. This strike was fast and accurate, a flaw he had found after observing Lin Yang for a long time: when Lin Yang attacked, his lower body would be exposed for an instant. But just as the short blade was about to hit, Lin Yang suddenly sidestepped. Chaos True Essence wrapped around the blade, swallowing the Earth Element True Essence bit by bit.

"Hmm?" Chu He was stunned; he hadn't expected Lin Yang's reaction to be so quick. He hurriedly pulled back his short blade and raised the black iron shield again. But this time, Lin Yang didn't attack again. He simply walked slowly around the Thick Earth Shield, his gaze fixed on the bottom edge.

Just then, a subtle Sound Transmission suddenly entered Lin Yang's ear: "Chu He's Thick Earth Shield relies on the black iron shield for leverage. The True Essence circulation at the bottom of the shield is slower than elsewhere—that is its flaw." It was Bai Wanqing's voice. Lin Yang looked up at the high platform and saw Bai Wanqing sitting next to Su Qingyue in the Guest Elder seats. Dressed in white as pure as snow, she gave him a slight nod, a hint of worry hidden in her eyes.

Warmth filled Lin Yang's heart, and the chaos star core instantly locked onto the True Essence trajectory at the shield's base. He suddenly accelerated, charging toward Chu He's left side—the direction where the bottom of the shield was most likely to expose a flaw when Chu He moved. Chu He indeed raised his shield to block, and the earthy yellow light aura flared up again. But just then, Lin Yang suddenly bent down, and Chaos True Essence drilled through the gap at the bottom of the shield.

"Oh no!" Chu He's expression changed. He hurriedly activated his True Essence to reinforce the shield's base, but it was too late. The gray-gold True Essence, like a thin snake, wrapped around his Earth Element True Essence. Instead of swallowing it, it calmed the restless Earth Element True Essence. Chu He felt a burst of comfort in his Dantian; the True Essence stagnation left over from his fight with Zhou Kai was actually cleared by Lin Yang's True Essence.

"Why... why didn't you swallow my True Essence?" Chu He lowered the black iron shield, his face full of confusion. He had seen Lin Yang's previous matches; the True Essence of those opponents had been completely devoured, yet Lin Yang had shown him mercy.

Lin Yang withdrew his hand and said softly, "Your True Essence is very pure. You earned it with every blade and shield fight; it shouldn't be swallowed." He paused, then added, "Your Thick Earth Shield is very strong, but it lacks a bit of agility. If you can leave some room for counterattack while defending, it will become even stronger."

Chu He was silent for a moment, then suddenly threw the black iron shield onto the ground and cupped his fists toward Lin Yang: "I concede." As he walked off the arena, he looked back at Lin Yang, his tone filled with mutual respect: "If you win the qualification for the Five Elements Spirit Pool, Cultivate well. Next time we fight, I won't lose again." Just as Chu He hoisted the black iron shield back onto his shoulder, before the earthy yellow True Essence had fully retracted, he cupped his fists toward Lin Yang again: "Your Chaos True Essence can identify flaws without wantonly devouring; you are a true man. Next time we compete, I will ensure the Thick Earth Shield has more agility." With that, he turned and walked through the crowd, his figure appearing straightforward in the sunlight. When Lin Yang pointed out the flaw at the bottom of his shield, he didn't seize the Opportunity to attack but instead helped clear his stagnant True Essence. This magnanimity won his sincere admiration.

Lin Yang watched his retreating figure, a slight smile appearing on his lips. This Chu He was indeed a pure Martial Artist.

Zhang Yuan's deliberately elevated voice came from the high platform. Wrapped in True Essence, the voice suppressed all discussion, carrying undisguised malice: "Outer Sect Grand Competition Semifinals: Ding-zi Courtyard's Lin Yang, versus Inner Sect Disciple Zhao Kun!"

"An Inner Sect Disciple?" The crowd instantly erupted. Someone pointed to the words "Outer Sect Disciples Only" on the Competition Schedule, their voice urgent: "Since when can Inner Sect Disciples fight in the Outer Sect Grand Competition? This violates the rules!"

"Are you stupid? Didn't you hear Zhao Qian say 'someone in the Inner Sect' before? That must be Zhao Kun! The Zhao Family has connections within the Sect; they definitely used back doors!"

"Zhao Kun is in the Gang Qi Realm! That's an entire major Realm higher than the Xiantian Realm. This isn't a match; they clearly intend to cripple Lin Yang!"

Amidst the discussions, Lin Yang's fingertips tightened slightly. He recalled the smugness in Zhao Qian's eyes yesterday outside the Spirit Qi Tower when he leaned against the stone lion and mocked that "Servants should go chop firewood in the back mountain," boasting that "the Inner Sect supports him." He also recalled the Waist Token engraved with the Misty Immortal Palace cloud pattern that Zhao Qian dropped after being defeated. The chaos star core had reacted then. Now, thinking about it, the Zhao brothers were definitely not as simple as just Star Moon Sect Disciples.

At the entrance of the Training Grounds, a moon-white figure slowly approached. Zhao Kun wore an Inner Sect Disciple's long robe, and a cloud-patterned Waist Token, identical to Zhao Qian's, hung from his waist, though his token had an extra gold rim, clearly indicating a higher rank. He was half a head taller than Zhao Qian, his shoulders and back straight as he walked. A faint golden Protective Aura shimmered around him; everywhere he passed, the air seemed to be cut with a fine sound. That was the sign of the Early Stage of the Gang Qi Realm, a more condensed and sharper True Essence form than the Xiantian Realm. The Chief of the Black Wind Stockade he encountered last time in Qingmeng Mountain was also in the Gang Qi Realm, and if not for an Opportunity then, he would have had no chance of winning.

"You are Lin Yang?" Zhao Kun walked to the center of the arena, looking down at Lin Yang condescendingly, a mocking smile curling his lips. "That trash brother of mine couldn't even stabilize the Fourth Layer of Xiantian Realm; he deserved to have his True Essence swallowed by you. But you shouldn't have dared to touch a member of my Zhao Family. Outer Sect rules are set for Servants like you. Does an Inner Sect Disciple need to follow rules when deciding who to hit?"

These words were like a needle, stinging the surrounding Outer Sect Disciples, who dared not speak out despite their anger. Lin Yang, however, heard a deeper meaning: Zhao Kun dared to openly break the rules, meaning there must be Inner Sect forces supporting him—perhaps the very backing Zhao Qian relied on to "run rampant in the Outer Sect." The chaos star core in his Dantian suddenly spun rapidly, dissecting the aura around Zhao Kun. Within that faint golden Protective Aura, besides the heat and metallic sharpness of the Burning Gold Art, there was a faint trace of aura originating from the same source as Zhao Qian's Waist Token. And the True Qi fluctuation from the Misty Immortal Palace that Lin Hongfeng leaked three days ago when colluding with the Black Wind Stockade was actually the same frequency!

"So that's it." Lin Yang understood. Last night, Zhang Yuan crushed a communication talisman in the shadows of the Spirit Qi Tower, saying "the target has mastered Martial Skill Simulation, the Plan has changed." Now, it seemed this "Plan" was to have Zhao Kun participate at the Gang Qi Realm, using the Grand Competition as an Opportunity to cripple him. Lin Yang's chaos star core could devour True Essence and simulate Martial Skills, which not only threatened the Zhao Family's status in the Sect but also touched upon the interests of the Misty Immortal Palace. That was why they were willing to break the rules to silence him before he could grow stronger.

On the high platform, Su Qingyue suddenly gripped the armrest tightly. She was about to stand up to challenge the decision, but a scene from the Qingmeng Mountain Trial flashed through her mind: at that time, Lin Hongfeng colluded with a White Cloud Sect Elder to set an ambush, and the Misty Immortal Palace was involved behind the scenes. Within the Star Moon Sect, there were quite a few high-ranking officials colluding with these forces. If she objected publicly now, she wouldn't save Lin Yang, but would instead alert the enemy and even put herself in a passive position. She could only suppress her anger, her gaze fixed on the arena, quietly condensing Ice True Essence at her fingertips, ready to strike the moment Lin Yang was in danger.

Zhang Yuan sat on the high platform, watching Zhao Kun's Protective Aura slightly suppress the True Essence around Lin Yang, a smug smile appearing on his lips. He had already received benefits from the Zhao Family and had also received hints from the Pro-Misty Immortal Palace Faction Elders: as long as he could use Zhao Kun to eliminate Lin Yang, he would be promoted to Inner Sect Deacon afterward. At this moment, he was just waiting to see the tragic sight of Lin Yang having his Meridians pierced and Spiritual Root destroyed by the Protective Aura.

Zhao Kun flexed his wrist. The faint golden Protective Aura condensed into a three-inch-long sword shape in his palm, its sharpness fully exposed: "I heard you can swallow True Essence? Today, I'll let you try the difference between Protective Aura and Xiantian True Essence. If you can swallow it, consider yourself lucky; if you can't, just wait for your Spiritual Root to shatter and get out of the Star Moon Sect!"

Lin Yang slowly raised his hand. Gray-gold Chaos True Essence condensed in his palm, denser than when he dealt with Chu He. He could clearly perceive that Zhao Kun's Protective Aura was more condensed than that of the Black Wind Stockade Chief, and his operation of the Burning Gold Art was more proficient. However, the chaos star core had already begun to deduce the trajectory of the Protective Aura, and could even faintly capture the flaw in the trace of Misty Immortal Palace aura within the Protective Aura.

"If you want to fight, then fight. Why waste words?" Lin Yang's voice was calm yet resolute. "Just remember this: if I win today, the days of the Zhao Family running rampant in the Star Moon Sect should come to an end."

"Arrogant!" Zhao Kun roared. The Protective Aura sword in his palm suddenly swelled to three feet long, stabbing toward Lin Yang's heart with a whistling heatwave. This was the Burning Gold Art's killing move, the "Burning Gold Protective Aura Sword," a unique skill he only mastered after achieving a Breakthrough to the Gang Qi Realm. It had once pierced the defenses of an Innate Fifth-Layer Disciple; ordinary Xiantian Realm Martial Artists could not resist it at all.

Lin Yang neither dodged nor retreated. The chaos star core operated at full speed, and gray-gold True Essence condensed into a fine, dense net in front of him, with an aura of devouring everything circulating between the meshes. The moment the faint golden Protective Aura sword collided with the gray-gold True Essence net, the air throughout the Training Grounds seemed to freeze. A confrontation between the Xiantian Realm and the Gang Qi Realm, a contest concerning survival and conspiracy, had officially begun.