156: The king returns, who is next?

When the "World Tree Gene Seed," imbued with the infinite mysteries of life, returned to Lin Tian's palm like a tired bird to its nest, completely disappearing, the ancient pagoda spirit's illusion, filled with relief and entrustment, also completed his final mission, transforming into countless specks of light and slowly dissipating.

The tenth floor of the guixu pagoda, that vast void space resembling the starry Universe, also shattered like a broken mirror, crumbling inch by inch.

The next second, the space shifted.

Lin Tian was sent back to the outside world, into the massive stone hall that had already fallen into a frenzy of excitement and shock, by a gentle teleportation force.

The moment he appeared.

The entire stone hall first plunged into an absolute silence lasting three seconds, enough to make one's heart stop beating.

Everyone's gaze, as if they had witnessed a Divine being descend to the Mortal world, was fixed on the black-clad, immaculate youth who slowly walked out of the light.

Immediately after, there was a deafening roar, like a volcanic eruption, a tsunami, or billions of supernovae exploding simultaneously—a thunderous cheer!

"—Lin Tian!!!"

"—Lin Tian!!!"

"—Lin Tian!!!"

No one called him "Your Highness" anymore, nor did anyone call him "Number Zero."

They just roared, shouting his name!

Because, in their hearts, this name, at this moment, had transcended all identities and titles, becoming the sole synonym for "myth" and "miracle"!

He, by his own power, broke ancient records spanning thousands of years!

He, in a Mortal body, opened the tenth floor of the guixu pagoda, an unprecedented feat!

He, as a contemporary, directly defeated the youthful projection of the Human Race's first Emperor, "War Emperor"!

He even defeated that mysterious guardian, whose abilities were incomprehensible, representing "Reincarnation" and "Taboo"!

He was the only, and the strongest, myth of this era, and of all time!

Facing this thunderous adoration, facing City Lord City Lord's complex gaze filled with awe, fear, and a hint of flattery, facing the gazes of the various Prodigies, which had long turned to resignation, bitterness, and utter despair.

Lin Tian, however, just calmly nodded.

It was as if he had not just completed an ultimate trial that overturned history and created a miracle, but merely... completed an insignificant, trivial matter.

He slowly walked down the trial platform, which had lost all its light, and went straight to Elizabeth and Jiang Luoling, who had already come to meet him. In his deep eyes, there was even a faint hint of apology, as if he felt bad for making them wait so long.

"Sorry for the wait."

He looked at the two stunning beauties, whose eyes were slightly red from worry, but his concern was whether they had been bored waiting.

This "calm and composed" demeanor, this "treating earth-shattering achievements as nothing" composure, made everyone present feel a profound... admiration from the depths of their Soul.

This was the true... Kingly demeanor, transcending all worldly fame and fortune!

City Lord City Lord took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the tumultuous shock in his heart, and hurried forward, about to publicly announce that this "Journey to the guixu pagoda" had come to a Perfection, and all rewards—including the "Platinum Pass" and the final prize of the "Martial Arts Tournament"—would, without dispute, belong to this man who had created a miracle.

A clear, chivalrous, yet undeniably firm voice suddenly interrupted him.

"City Lord, please wait."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Arthur, the Saint of the European "Holy Temple," the golden-haired youth who had maintained his elegance and silence throughout, slowly step forward at this moment.

His action instantly drew all eyes.

Everyone was curious: at this moment, when Lin Tian had already suppressed everything with absolute strength, who would dare to stand up and challenge his authority?

Arthur first performed a flawless knightly chest-salute to Lin Tian, his pure, sapphire-like eyes filled with absolute respect for the strong.

"Your Excellency Lin Tian, you have created an unprecedented myth in the guixu pagoda, won the final trial, and proven that you are the undisputed strongest of this era. On this point, I, Arthur, and the Holy Temple Knights behind me, are completely convinced and have no objections."

His words were watertight, first elevating Lin Tian to a supreme position.

Then, he shifted the topic, pulling everyone's attention back to that almost forgotten, initial starting point!

"But..."

He turned and looked at City Lord City Lord, his pure eyes filled with a defense of "rules."

His voice, amplified by the sound-enhancement array, clearly spread throughout the hall.

"...The final prize of the 'Martial Arts Tournament'—the mysterious man possessing the Bloodline of an ancient Divine Beast—his ultimate ownership, according to the rules, has not yet been decided!"

At these words, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!

Everyone's memories were instantly reawakened!

That's right!

They had almost forgotten!

The beginning of all this tonight, the "Martial Arts Tournament" that had caused countless ripples, its final "prize"—the mysterious man who had torn apart an S-class combat puppet with his bare hands—was still quietly confined in that iron cage made of special alloy!

Because Lin Tian's performance in the guixu pagoda was too dazzling, too shocking, everyone subconsciously overlooked this initial, and most crucial, "fuse"!

Arthur ignored the commotion; his gaze fell on Lin Tian again, and his eyes no longer held the previous admiration, but were filled with the uncompromising Battle Intent of a top competitor!

"My Holy Temple is willing to offer three S-class 'Holy Light' relics, passed down for a thousand years, in exchange for his ownership! We believe that the violent power within him can only be purified and guided by our Holy Temple's 'Holy Light'!"

His words were like a bombshell dropped into a calm lake, instantly reigniting the flames of "hope" and "greed" in the hearts of all the Prodigies present, which had long been crushed by Lin Tian!

That's right!

We lost to you, this monster, in the guixu pagoda!

But in this competition for the prize of the "Martial Arts Tournament," the rules are fair!

Highest bidder wins!

"That's right!" The enchanting goddess from Dongying, dressed in a miko outfit, also giggled and stepped forward, joining the fray, "This humble one also believes that this matter should be handled according to the rules of the 'Martial Arts Tournament'. My 'Amaterasu Shrine' is willing to bid! An S-class demon blade, 'Onimaru Kunitsuna,' plus a fragment of the 'Yasakani no Magatama' said to be related to 'Xu Fu's eastward expedition'!"

"My 'Brahma' lineage from India is willing to exchange three S-class 'Sariras'!"

For a time, those Prodigies who had just been suppressed by Lin Tian's Divine Might to the point of not daring to breathe, when faced with this "only" opportunity to "regain face" or even "overtake through a curve," the greed and desire belonging to the strong were ignited once again!

The scene instantly turned into a tense and frantic "auction" again!

And Lin Tian quietly watched this dramatic scene unfolding before him, watching those "defeated opponents" who had again turned red-faced, as if they had forgotten the fear of being dominated just now, and that familiar, playful smile reappeared on his face.

He slowly raised his hand and gently pressed it down.

An invisible, yet terrifying aura, enough to silence everyone present, instantly enveloped the entire hall.

All the clamor, all the bids, ceased abruptly at this moment.

Lin Tian looked at Saint Arthur, who was the first to "stir up trouble" and was now staring back at him with a determined expression, then looked at the others, and finally, spoke softly.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly set the final... rules for this "ultimate battle for supremacy" that had just begun.

"That's right."

He calmly nodded, surprisingly agreeing with Arthur's statement.

"His ownership, indeed, has not yet been decided."

Just as Arthur and the others thought he was preparing to "abide by the rules" and participate in this "auction."

Lin Tian paused, and a cold smile, as if looking at a group of reckless prey, flashed in his deep eyes.

He slowly completed the second half of his sentence in a matter-of-fact tone, as if stating some universal truth.

"Then..."

"...who's next to come up... and die?"