111: It's a farce, I'll end it

When Huo Qubing's gaze, filled with endless Battle Intent, crossed the entire arena like two unsheathed divine swords and locked onto the Long family's seats, the entire Taihe Hall Plaza once again fell into a suffocating silence.

The preliminary round was over.

A "Rebirth" Sword Emperor, through his failure, proved the strength of another "ceiling."

And now, everyone knew that the true protagonist of this "Martial Arts Tournament of Prodigies," the man who had been leisurely watching with a teacup in hand from beginning to end, was about to make his appearance.

Under the gaze of billions of viewers worldwide, and the complex emotions in the eyes of all top Prodigies,

Lin Tian slowly put down the white jade teacup in his hand.

The teacup clinked against the table, emitting a crisp and pleasant sound. In the deathly silent plaza, this sound was like a war drum beating in everyone's hearts, causing all of them to skip a beat.

He stood up.

He didn't erupt with any earth-shattering Aura, nor did he release any terrifying pressure.

He simply stood up, then walked step by step, as if strolling in his own courtyard, unhurriedly ascending the "Deification Platform" that drew the world's attention.

His entrance lacked the Marquis Champion's iron-blooded dominance and Ye Fan's sharp edge, yet it carried a more Advanced, almost transcendent, absolute Aura of a "terminator," as if he was above all rules.

His appearance declared that the "game" started by others was now over.

What followed was his time.

However, he did not walk towards the Marquis Champion Huo Qubing, whose Aura was at its Peak and Battle Intent soaring.

Instead, he first walked to the edge of the arena, to Ye Fan, who was struggling to get up from the ground but ultimately fell again due to severe injuries.

He looked down at this former "Son of Destiny," this "leek" whom he had personally crippled but who had then gained an even greater fortuitous encounter. In his deep eyes, there was no mockery, no pity, only a pure indifference, as if he were examining a flawed work of art.

"Your Sword Dao talent is one in ten thousand."

Lin Tian spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, like a god's whisper, carrying an undeniable tone of judgment.

"Whether it's the Sword Intent inherited from ancient times, or your Dao Heart that was established after breaking, both can be considered top-tier in this era."

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan suddenly looked up, and a flicker of unyielding flame reignited in his eyes, which had been somewhat dim due to his failure. He thought that Lin Tian was... acknowledging him?

However, Lin Tian's next words were like a basin of the coldest spring water from the netherworld, completely extinguishing the spark he had just ignited.

"What a pity..."

Lin Tian shook his head, his eyes finally showing a genuine, heartfelt regret.

"...Your 'Emperor's Heart' has long been obscured by narrow, ridiculous hatred, and polluted by an unrealistic obsession to prove yourself."

"You wield your sword not for seeking the Dao, not for protection, not even for challenging stronger opponents. You only wield it to prove meaningless things to a woman, a woman who has long since abandoned you."

"A sword is both a weapon of destruction and a Sacred Artifact. Once the Sword Heart is sullied, it can no longer perceive the true scenery of the Great Dao."

"You have gone astray."

Lin Tian looked at Ye Fan's face, which had instantly turned ashen, and delivered the final, god-like verdict.

"In this life, there is no longer any possibility of reaching the Peak."

Boom—!

These words were ten thousand times heavier than Huo Qubing's White Tiger Army-Breaking Kill! Like the most malicious curse, like the sharpest Sword of Dao Heart, they fiercely pierced into the deepest part of Ye Fan's Soul! Shattering all the confidence and pride he had just rebuilt through "Sword Emperor Rebirth" once again!

"Pfft—!"

Ye Fan was struck as if by lightning, his mind severely shaken, and a mouthful of blood gushed out. He completely fainted, his Dao Heart having once again suffered irreparable cracks!

Heart-piercing!

This was more cruel and fatal than any physical blow... Heart-piercing words!

After completely erasing this "loser" from a spiritual level, Lin Tian slowly turned around, casting his indifferent gaze to the other end of the arena, towards the Marquis Champion Huo Qubing, who had remained silent throughout but whose Aura had already reached its Peak.

Huo Qubing looked at Lin Tian, and for the first time, a never-before-seen solemnity appeared in his sharp, hawk-like eyes.

He didn't care about Lin Tian's comments on Ye Fan, but from those seemingly simple remarks, he discerned a Grandmaster-level understanding of the Martial Dao that far surpassed his peers! This young man was not only unfathomably strong, but his vision and scope had reached a daunting height!

This was a truly, unrivaled... monster!

"Your military Dao boxing is decisive and bold, having fully grasped the essence of the White Tiger Sacred Beast's killing intent. Not bad."

Lin Tian also spoke in a "commentary" tone, unhurriedly.

Huo Qubing said nothing, just listened quietly.

"What a pity..."

Lin Tian shook his head again, his gaze like an experienced Artifact Refining Great Master examining a powerful but fatally flawed Sacred Artifact.

"...You rely too much on the 'White Tiger Gene Core' that the military forcibly implanted in you when you were young."

"It established your reputation as the 'ceiling of combat power among the younger generation,' making you invincible among your peers."

"But it is, after all, an external object."

"It also acts like the strongest shackles, completely locking your upper limit, preventing you from ever glimpsing the true scenery of the Demigod Domain, that of 'breaking free from shackles and merging with heaven and earth,' in this life."

Upon hearing this, Huo Qubing's resolute face, carved as if by knife and axe, changed dramatically for the first time!

This was his biggest secret! And the greatest hidden pain in his heart! It was the biggest impediment on his Martial Dao path, which he had only vaguely perceived after failing to break through to the Demigod Realm multiple times!

And this secret was seen through by this young man... with just one glance?!

After "commenting" on the two strongest individuals present in a "dimension-reducing attack" manner,

Lin Tian finally lost all interest in the "game."

He surveyed the entire scene, his gaze sweeping over Adam, whose face was grim in the Sacred Mountain seats, over Qin Wushuang, whose face was ferocious in the VIP seats, and over the tens of thousands of so-called "Prodigies" below the stage.

Finally, his gaze fell upon the exquisite figure on the high platform, who had been quietly watching him from beginning to end, her eyes filled with endless complex emotions—Qin Yubing.

With a matter-of-fact, undeniable tone, as if proclaiming a universal truth, he spoke the most domineering and unreasonable words to everyone, and to the entire world.

"Your contention, your fighting, your so-called 'Martial Arts Tournament of Prodigies'...".

He paused, a curve of ultimate disdain appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"...is nothing more than a farce that I've grown tired of."

"Because, she," he extended his hand, pointing distantly towards Qin Yubing on the high platform.

"—is my maid."

"Her belonging is decided by me."

He withdrew his hand, his gaze once again sweeping across the entire scene, his eyes like a god looking down at a group of ants fighting over food.

"And not... you A bunch of trash."