35: A man can't say no.

When the first ray of morning sunlight shone upon the entire Purple Cloud Holy Land.

The Training Ground was already packed with people, leaving no empty seats.

Today was the final and most anticipated day of the New Disciple Ranking Competition!

—Lin Chen vs. Liu Ruxu!

One was "The Shame of the Holy Land," who had relied on heaven-defying dumb luck and shameless tactics to stumble into the finals!

The other was a strong favorite to win, possessing both power and beauty, and hailed as the strongest competitor in this Grand Competition!

This vastly uneven match, in everyone's eyes, would be a completely predictable... one-sided slaughter!

"Hahaha, did you guys hear? That man named Lin Chen tried to meet Senior Sister Liu last night, but after being rejected, he was so desperate he went running to Senior Sister Su Mei from the Joyful Union Lineage instead!"

"I heard that too! Someone saw Senior Sister Su Mei emerge refreshed from his Immortal Cave early this morning, but Lin Chen hasn't even shown his face yet!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, what a death-seeking fool! Senior Sister Su Mei is a peak Golden Core stage cultivator! He's only Late Foundation Establishment Stage; after being 'drained' all night, he probably can't even stand steady today, right?"

"I'm dying of laughter! He's... digging his own grave the night before the match!"

All kinds of sarcastic and gloating discussions spread wildly through the crowd.

Even Sect Master Yun Yun, sitting on the Stage Dais, frowned in disgust upon hearing this news.

(A worthless piece of trash that can't be helped! Men truly are creatures who think with their lower half!)

She was completely disappointed in Lin Chen and didn't even bother to look at him again.

Amidst the intense gaze of the masses, Liu Ruxu, the Chief Disciple of Green Bamboo Peak, finally made her appearance!

Dressed in white, holding a Three-Foot Green Edge sword, her expression was icy, like the Mystic Maiden of the Nine Heavens, instantly igniting the cheers of the entire venue!

"Senior Sister Liu will definitely win!!"

"Break that trash's legs! Let him know what a man's proper duty is!"

Listening to the mountain-shaking, sea-roaring cheers, Liu Ruxu revealed an arrogant smile.

She glanced at the empty spot across from her, her eyes filled with disdain.

In her opinion, that man had probably been completely drained by Su Mei, turned into a dried husk, and didn't even have the courage to step onto the stage.

"The time for the match has arrived! If Lin Chen does not take the stage immediately, he will be judged as forfeiting!" the Referee Elder announced loudly.

However, just as his voice fell silent.

A voice tinged with "fatigue" and "weakness" drifted slowly from the entrance.

"Who said... I wouldn't dare come?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

They saw Lin Chen, slowly approaching, step by step.

He certainly looked... "in extremely poor condition."

His face was "pale," his steps "unsteady," his eyes sunken—he looked completely "hollowed out" by indulgence.

Seeing his appearance, the roar of laughter throughout the venue instantly reached its peak!

"Hahaha! Look at that pathetic sight! He's floating as he walks!"

"It's over, it's over. Forget three moves, I bet Senior Sister Liu could kill him with just a glare!"

Liu Ruxu looked at Lin Chen's "miserable" state, and the contempt in her eyes intensified to the extreme.

She didn't even bother to mock him, because in her opinion, speaking to such "trash" would only lower her own status.

Lin Chen "struggled" onto the Arena Platform and smiled "weakly" at Liu Ruxu.

"Senior... Senior Sister Liu, good morning."

"Last night... the exercise was a bit intense. Sorry to... keep you waiting, Senior Sister."

His suggestive words completely confirmed everyone's suspicion that "he had been drained dry"!

"Shut your filthy mouth!" Liu Ruxu snapped coldly, her beautiful face filled with killing intent. "A repulsive man like you is unworthy of speaking to me!"

"Referee, can we start?"

"I am already impatient to cleanse the sect!"

"The match begins!"

Following the referee's command!

Liu Ruxu could no longer suppress the killing intent in her heart!

She didn't even bother with a probing attack; her first move was her strongest killing technique!

"Secret Technique—[Ice Age]!"

An Ice River Sword Qi, larger and more solid than any she had summoned before, instantly took shape, carrying terrifying power capable of freezing everything, and swept toward the "teetering" Lin Chen!

She wanted one move!

To utterly blast this disgusting man into dust!

Facing this world-destroying strike!

Facing this desperate situation that everyone believed would result in certain death!

That man, "pale-faced and unsteady-footed."

All the "weakness" and "fatigue" on his face vanished without a trace in an instant!

What replaced it was a cold smile... indifferent, filled with boundless majesty, like that of a deity!

Slowly, he raised his right hand.

Then, under the horrified, instantly frozen gazes of everyone present.

Facing the roaring, terrifying Ice River—powerful enough to freeze a Golden Core expert.

Gently, he pointed a single finger.

"Shatter."