139: This battle of geniuses is truly about to change the world...

Li Yan suddenly pointed at a dense forest ahead.

Lin Fan's spiritual sense swept out, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Within the dense forest, four human Prodigies were besieging a... foreign race?

That foreign race was two zhang tall, its entire body covered in dark-gold scales, with a single horn on its head and a pair of tattered fleshy wings on its back. Its aura had actually reached the Early Stage Martial Emperor level!

Behind the foreign race was a cave protected by a Formation, with precious light faintly flickering inside.

"It's a Gold-Winged Demon! An Early Stage Martial Emperor Gold-Winged Demon General!"

Li Yan's expression changed:

"The Gold-Winged Demon Race is one of the native foreign races of the Blood Prison Battlefield. Their Physical Body is powerful, and they are skilled in Gold Element Laws. They are very difficult to deal with!"

"Those four Prodigies... they seem to be from the Star Hall of the Central District?"

Indeed.

The four Prodigies were all wearing Star Dao Robes, and their cultivation levels were all at the Peak Martial King stage. At this moment, they were working together to set up a 'Minor Zhou Heaven Star Formation,' trapping the Gold-Winged Demon General within the Formation and continuously wearing it down.

But the Gold-Winged Demon General was simply too strong. Even while trapped, it still displayed overwhelming ferocity. Every attack caused the Star Formation to tremble violently, and the four Prodigies' faces were pale, clearly unable to hold on for much longer.

"Senior Brother Xing Chen! This Demon General is too strong! The Formation is about to collapse!" a female Prodigy said urgently.

"Hold on! The treasures inside the cave are at least Heaven Rank! As long as we can get them, our Star Hall will make a huge profit this time!" Xing Chen, the leader, gritted his teeth.

"But..."

"No buts! Hold on for another incense stick's time! This Demon General's stamina is almost exhausted!"

A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Xing Chen's eyes. He suddenly bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the Formation Plate:

"Zhou Heaven Star — Dragon Trap!"

Buzz!

The Star Formation's light intensified, temporarily stabilizing the situation.

But it was only temporary.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

Lin Fan rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

Gold-Winged Demon General, Early Stage Martial Emperor, skilled in Gold Element Laws.

Just right, he could use it to test... the practical effects of the Five Elements mutual restraint.

"Li Yan, you wait here."

Lin Fan took a step forward and walked toward the dense forest.

"Senior Lin! You're going to take action?!" Li Yan was startled. "That's an Early Stage Martial Emperor Gold-Winged Demon General! And the people from the Star Hall..."

"Early Stage Martial Emperor?" Lin Fan smiled. "Perfect, I'm lacking a practice partner."

Li Yan: "..."

Senior, your tone... is way too arrogant, isn't it?!

...In the dense forest.

"Senior Brother! The Formation is about to break!!!"

The female Prodigy screamed in terror.

The Gold-Winged Demon General suddenly roared at the sky, the gold scales all over its body exploding. Violent Gold Element Laws turned into countless golden blade glows, frantically battering the Star Formation!

Click！

A crack appeared on the Formation Plate!

"No... this is bad!"

Xing Chen's face turned ashen.

With the four of them working together to set up the Formation, they could at most trap an Early Stage Martial Emperor for a short while.

Now that the Formation was about to break, they were no match for this Demon General at all!

Did they really have to crush their tokens and withdraw?!

They were so unwilling!

The treasures in the cave were clearly right in front of them!

Just then.

A calm voice came from outside the dense forest:

"Need some help?"

Xing Chen and the others suddenly turned their heads.

They saw a young man in black appear at the edge of the forest at some point, looking at them with a faint smile.

"You... you are Lin Fan from the Eastern District?!"

Xing Chen's pupils shrunk.

As a Core Disciple of the Star Hall, he naturally recognized this ruthless man who had been making waves recently!

"Yeah." Lin Fan nodded. "I'll take this Demon General."

"You guys can leave."

Xing Chen's expression changed:

"Lin Fan! We discovered this Demon General first! We also found the treasures in the cave first! You..."

"Oh?"

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow:

"So?"

"Can you beat it?"

Xing Chen choked, rendered speechless.

Indeed, they couldn't beat it.

"If you can't beat it, then shut up."

Lin Fan didn't bother wasting any more words. He took a step forward and arrived directly in front of the Star Formation.

Then, he raised his hand.

He gave the nearly shattered Formation a light pat.

Smack.

The Formation shattered.

It wasn't broken by the Demon General.

It was... casually slapped to pieces by Lin Fan.

Xing Chen and the others were dumbfounded.

That was the Zhou Heaven Star Formation that could trap an Early Stage Martial Emperor!

It was just... slapped to pieces like that?!

"Roar!!!"

The Gold-Winged Demon General broke free, its crimson eyes instantly locking onto Lin Fan as it let out a furious roar:

"Human! You seek death!!!"

Its wings flapped, turning it into a golden afterimage. Its sharp claws tore through the air, aiming straight for Lin Fan's throat!

"Gold Element Laws?"

Lin Fan didn't dodge. Instead, he started laughing:

"Just right, I'll use you to try..."

"Five Elements Rotation — Fire Restrains Gold!"

Boom!!!!

Lin Fan formed hand seals, and the Fire Laws around him surged wildly!

But this time, it was no longer simple flame chains.

It was... a ten-zhang tall "Flame Divine General" entirely condensed from flames!

The Divine General held a giant flame sword and slashed down at the pouncing Gold-Winged Demon General!

Sizzle!!!

The giant flame sword struck the Gold-Winged Demon General's scales, letting out a piercing grinding sound!

But the invincible golden scales actually began to melt like wax before the giant flame sword!

"Roar!!!"

The Gold-Winged Demon General let out a shrill scream and retreated frantically. A scorched wound deep enough to see the bone was slashed across its chest, and golden blood flowed!

"Fire restrains gold, it really is effective."

Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction.

Although his Fire Law was only at the entry level (8%), its effect was outstanding against this foreign race that specialized in Gold Element Laws!

"Again."

The Flame Divine General swung its sword again!

The Gold-Winged Demon General was terrified and turned to flee!

But it was too late.

"Five Elements Rotation — Wood Feeds Fire!"

Lin Fan formed hand seals again.

From the surrounding vegetation, the Wood Laws were forcibly extracted and merged into the Flame Divine General's body!

The Flame Divine General's power surged threefold!

Boom!!!!

With one sword strike, the Gold-Winged Demon General was split in half from head to toe!

[Ding! Slayed an Early Stage Martial Emperor Gold-Winged Demon General above your level using the Five Elements mutual restraint, prestige value +8,000!]

[Obtained 2,000 Battle Merit Points!]

[Current prestige value: 90,070 points!]

The Gold-Winged Demon General's corpse crashed to the ground, turning into a fist-sized, dark-gold crystal core.

Lin Fan casually put it away and then looked at the dumbstruck Xing Chen and the others.

"Now, are there any more problems?"

Xing Chen and the others trembled and shook their heads repeatedly:

"No... no problem!"

"This Demon General was killed by Senior Lin, so the treasures naturally belong to Senior Lin!"

"We're leaving now! Leaving right now!"

The four of them, as if granted a general amnesty, scrambled and fled.

Only then did Lin Fan turn to look at the cave protected by the Formation.

His spiritual sense swept through; there were indeed treasures inside.

And... more than one.

"Li Yan, come and collect the items."

"Yes! Senior Lin!"

...A moment later.

The treasures in the cave were swept clean.

Three thousand-year Spirit Medicines, two Ores containing Gold Element Laws, and an... incomplete Body Refining Cultivation Technique?

"Indestructible Golden Body Incomplete Manual?"

Lin Fan flipped through it and found that it was an Earth Rank High Grade Body Refining Cultivation Technique Incomplete Manual, with only the first two layers.

Although it wasn't as good as the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, it was still decent.

"Just right, I'll give it to Tie Zhu as a reference."

Lin Fan put away the items and continued on his way with Li Yan.

Meanwhile, on the square outside.

On the ten light screens, the rankings were refreshing frantically!

[First Place: Lin Fan (Eastern District), Battle Merit Points: 7,000]

[Second Place: Ye Wuhen (Central District), Battle Merit Points: 6,500]

[Third Place: Yao Yue (Central District), Battle Merit Points: 6,200]

[Fourth Place: Xue Tu (Central District), Battle Merit Points: 6,000]

[Fifth Place: Xing Wuyue (Central District), Battle Merit Points: 5,800]

...Lin Fan's name sat high at the top of the list!

Moreover, the gap between him and second place was still widening!

"My god! Lin Fan already has seven thousand Battle Merit Points?!"

"He's only been in there for half a day! This efficiency is too terrifying!"

"It's said he just killed an Early Stage Martial Emperor Gold-Winged Demon General! He directly obtained two thousand Battle Merit Points!"

"Early Stage Martial Emperor?! Just how strong is he?!"

"It seems this Prodigy Battle is really about to change..."

On the square, exclamations rose one after another.

And within the Secret Realm.

Lin Fan looked at the prestige value on the System panel, which had already broken through ninety thousand, and a cold arc curled on his lips.

"This is only the beginning."

"The real hunt..."

"Is still to come."

[Ding! Reached the top of the Battle Merit ranking, fame spreading far and wide, prestige value +5,000!]

[Current prestige value: 95,070 points!]

...