31: Narrow victory

The results of the grand competition's drawing were quickly announced.

Lin Chen's first-round opponent was assigned to Arena Number Seven.

When the match information was displayed, the entire training ground instantly erupted in undisguised laughter.

"Hahaha! Look! That man's opponent is actually... Junior Sister Li?"

"Which Junior Sister Li?"

"Who else could it be? It's Li Xue, that notorious 'noob' from the outer sect who's been stuck at Qi Condensation Stage Eight for three years!"

"She finally reached Foundation Establishment Stage."

"Pfft—! Is the sect... going easy on him? They actually arranged the weakest opponent!"

"What if they are? In my opinion, with his unstable cultivation, he might not even be able to defeat Li Xue!"

Amidst the overwhelming mockery, a petite, ordinary-looking, somewhat timid female disciple nervously walked onto Arena Number Seven.

She was Li Xue, the recognized 'combat power measuring unit' among the newly promoted disciples this time.

"Junior... Junior Sister Li, please guide me." Lin Chen gave her a 'kind' smile.

"Senior... Senior Brother Lin, please... please guide me." Li Xue was so nervous she could barely speak properly.

Although her strength was lacking, she had heard all sorts of rumors about Lin Chen being a 'cultivation cauldron'. Facing this 'walking Tang Monk's flesh' at this moment, her small face turned red, her heart pounded like a drum, and she didn't even dare to look Lin Chen in the eye.

"Match start!"

With the referee's command.

Li Xue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed her nervousness, and launched her attack first!

She used the Purple Cloud Holy Land's most common technique, the Flowing Cloud Sword Art. Her sword moves were soft and lacked any power.

However, facing this attack, which everyone saw as full of flaws...

Lin Chen's response astonished everyone!

He actually... didn't choose to meet force with force!

Instead, he used a seemingly chaotic yet always narrowly dodging footwork at the last moment, beginning a... frantic escape on the arena!

"Did I see that right? He... he's dodging? He's actually dodging Li Xue's attacks?!"

"Hahaha! I'm dying of laughter! A man in the Late Foundation Establishment Stage being chased all over the arena by a Junior Sister in Qi Condensation Stage Eight!"

"Useless! He's utterly useless! He's completely disgraced men!"

In the audience, the laughter surged like a tide, wave after wave.

Even Sect Master Yun Yun on the Stage Dais, seeing this scene, slowly closed her eyes in disappointment, no longer interested in even a second glance.

(Rotten wood cannot be carved.)

On the arena, Lin Chen appeared 'in a sorry state,' but in reality, his heart was as steady as an old dog.

He precisely suppressed his speed and strength to a level 'slightly stronger than Li Xue.'

He was waiting.

Waiting for the most opportune moment to 'turn defeat into victory.'

After more than a hundred exchanges.

Li Xue's spiritual energy finally began to wane. Her sword moves also became increasingly chaotic.

Now!

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes!

He seized a tiny flaw where her move couldn't be retracted in time, and his footwork suddenly changed!

He charged forward like a ghost!

He didn't use any fancy moves, simply extended his hand and, with two fingers, lightly flicked Li Xue's sword-wielding wrist!

"Clink!"

A soft sound.

Li Xue only felt a subtle force, her tiger's mouth went numb, and the long sword in her hand uncontrollably flew out!

Immediately after, Lin Chen's body 'stumbled' forward, seemingly unintentionally bumping her chest lightly with his shoulder.

"Ah!"

Li Xue cried out in surprise, and her petite body was sent flying backward by this 'huge' force, directly falling off the arena.

The entire venue first fell silent.

Then, an even louder burst of laughter erupted.

"He... he won? He won just like that?"

"Hahaha! That's hilarious! He actually won with such... hooligan-like tactics!"

"What kind of Saint is he?! He's just a clown!"

As for Lin Chen, after 'knocking Li Xue flying,' he himself seemed to have 'exhausted all his strength,' leaning on his knees on the arena, 'gasping for breath' loudly.

That appearance of a 'narrow victory' further solidified everyone's impression of him as 'lacking in strength and relying entirely on luck.'

However, amidst countless mocking gazes, a few gazes stood out.

On the Stage Dais, an elderly female referee who had been resting with her eyes closed now slowly opened them, a subtle glint flashing in her cloudy eyes.

(This kid's footwork... is interesting. Seemingly chaotic, but in reality... it secretly conforms to some profound rhythm. Moreover, his final flick and bump, the control of force... was perhaps too precise.)

And in another corner of the audience.

The favored top sixteen contestant, Liu Ruxu, was watching this 'farce' with a few Best Friends, full of interest.

"Hehehe, Senior Sister Liu, look at that man, he's so funny!"

"Yeah, yeah, this kind of person actually wants to challenge the Golden Core Stage? He's dreaming!"

Liu Ruxu, hearing this, also curled her lips in disdain.

But for some reason, when she saw Lin Chen's final 'clumsy' bump, a sense of incongruity inexplicably flashed in her mind.

(Was it an illusion? He just now... seemed to have deliberately bumped into her?)

But this thought was only fleeting and was soon cast aside.

He was just a Late Foundation Establishment Stage good-for-nothing, what kind of schemes could he have?

It was just good luck.

She looked at the 'gasping' figure on the arena, a cruel arc forming on the corner of her lips.

"No matter."

"Let him win a few more matches."

"The higher he climbs, the harder he'll fall... when he meets me."

"I'm already somewhat impatient to see him kneeling at my feet, weeping bitterly."