26: Qingfeng Swordplay is a complete mess

【 Identifying... 】

The patterns on the surface of the bone suddenly lit up with a faint glow!

A fragmentary image was forcibly surged into Lin Fan's mind—

In the depths of the dim underground cavern, a beast so huge it was indescribable roared at the sky. It had nine heads, and each head spewed energy of different attributes—fire, frost, lightning, poison mist...

The image flashed and vanished.

With a "crack," the bone split into several pieces, and the energy dissipated completely.

【 Identification Result: Ancient Vicious Beast Nine Infants (Bloodline Memory Fragment) 】

【 Contained Information: Fragmentary Nine Infants Bloodline Talent, Water and Fire Immunity (Passive)—slightly increases resistance to water and fire attribute attacks. 】

【 Absorb? 】

"Absorb!"

The shattered bone turned into powder, and a warm current merged into Lin Fan's body.

He felt as if a thin film of energy had appeared on the surface of his skin.

"Better than nothing," Lin Fan brushed the dust off his hands. "At least the 20 points weren't wasted."

He looked at the remaining three items he wanted.

Space Expansion Stone, Formation Jade Slip, Teleportation Talisman.

"Still need some prestige value... Tomorrow is the Martial Arts Examination, I have to put on a good show."

Early morning.

Yuncheng City Martial Arts Hall.

The main hall, which could accommodate fifty thousand people, was packed!

The top ten students from all thirty-eight high schools in the city, totaling three hundred and eighty elite candidates, gathered here!

In the spectator stands, besides students' parents and school leaders, there were observers and recruitment representatives from major martial arts schools, the military, financial groups, and martial arts families.

The atmosphere was more than ten times more solemn than during the school examination!

Inside the VIP box.

Colonel Zhao and Lei Bao sat in the front row; beside them were the Yuncheng City Education Bureau Chief, the Martial Arts Association President, and other bigwigs.

"Old Zhao, I heard your military has taken a fancy to a kid named Lin Fan?" the Education Bureau Chief Zhang asked with a smile.

"Mm, he's a good seedling," Colonel Zhao nodded.

"I looked at his file, blood qi value 1.02? This..." Chief Zhang hesitated, stopping mid-sentence.

"Just watch," Colonel Zhao didn't explain further.

On the other side, several representatives from influential families wearing luxurious martial arts robes were also whispering.

"The Xiao Family has lost too much face this time. Xiao Zhan was crippled, I heard the Old Master Xiao was so angry he vomited blood."

"That Lin Fan, his attacks were too ruthless. But I heard he performed meritorious service in the underground cavern, so the military is protecting him."

"Heh, the military won't interfere in today's Martial Arts Examination. My nephew, Wang Teng, broke through to the Martial Master Middle Stage last year, and his goal this time is to be the Provincial Top Scholar. If he meets that Lin Fan..."

"Wang Teng is indeed powerful. It is said he has already touched the threshold of the Martial Master Late Stage."

"Look, the contestants are entering!"

At the tunnel entrance, three hundred and eighty candidates walked into the venue one after another.

They stood according to their school zones.

In the Yuncheng Third High School area, Lin Fan stood at the very front, with Su Muyu and eight other classmates behind him.

He could feel countless gazes focused on him.

Curiosity, scrutiny, hostility, disdain...

"Brother Fan, there are so many people today..."

A boy from Third High said in a low voice, his voice trembling slightly.

"Scared?" Lin Fan didn't even turn his head.

"A-a little..."

"If you're scared, keep your head down. Don't let people see your legs shaking."

The boy: "..."

Su Muyu walked to Lin Fan's side and said softly, "I see a few opponents worth noting."

"Wang Teng from First High. His blood qi value is estimated to be above 3.5, Martial Master Middle Stage."

"Li Kuang from Second High. He practices hard-body skills, his Physical Body is extremely strong."

"And that girl from Experimental High School, Ye Qingxue. Her sword technique is very strange."

Lin Fan nodded: "What place are you aiming for?"

"Top three."

Su Muyu said with determined eyes, "To enter the Provincial Examination."

"Ambitious," Lin Fan smiled. "Then I will reluctantly take first place."

The corners of several Third High students' mouths twitched.

Brother Fan, can you not be so matter-of-fact about it?

On the high platform, the chief examiner—a white-haired old man with unfathomable aura—stood up.

"Silence!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly suppressed the noise of the entire venue.

A Martial Ancestor expert!

"I am the chief examiner for this year's Yuncheng City Martial Arts Examination, Zhou Zhenshan."

"The rules are simple: three hundred and eighty people will pass through three rounds of elimination matches to decide the top ten. The top ten will participate in a round-robin tournament, ranked by wins."

"During the matches, you must not intentionally cause death. Other methods are unrestricted."

"Now, the first round of elimination matches begins!"

"The big screen will randomly assign opponents!"

Hum!

The giant screen in the center of the venue began to flash, with three hundred and eighty names scrolling and pairing rapidly!

Three seconds later, the match table froze!

"First round, Arena 3: Lin Fan from Yuncheng Third High School versus Zhao Hu from Yuncheng Seventh High School!"

Lin Fan glanced at his Arena and walked over slowly.

His opponent, Zhao Hu, was already standing on the stage. He was a sturdy man nearly two meters tall, with knotted muscles and vigorous blood qi, estimated to be around 2.0.

Seeing Lin Fan come up, he grinned: "Lin Fan? Heard you crippled Xiao Zhan? Interesting."

Lin Fan ignored him and looked at the referee.

The referee confirmed both identities and waved his hand: "Begin!"

Zhao Hu let out a low roar, his muscles bulging all over his body, charging straight over like a humanoid violent bear!

"Bull Rush!"

Yellow Rank top-grade Martial Skill, combined with his already powerful Physical Body, it had impressive power!

Someone in the audience exclaimed: "Zhao Hu is the second best at Seventh High. This move can even smash through steel plates!"

"With Lin Fan's build, he'd fall apart if he took one hit, right?"

Just as Zhao Hu was about to hit Lin Fan—Lin Fan moved.

He just lightly raised his right foot.

Then, he gave the charging Zhao Hu a light trip.

The movement was as casual as kicking away a small pebble while taking a walk.

Bang!!!

Zhao Hu's forward momentum stopped abruptly, and he lost his balance completely, slamming face-first onto the alloy Arena!

Nosebleed spraying wildly!

Front teeth flew out!

He lay on the ground, dazed for two seconds, before letting out a miserable howl: "My teeth!!!"

The referee was also dazed.

This... is over?

Lin Fan withdrew his foot and looked at the referee: "Can he still fight?"

The referee looked at Zhao Hu, who was groaning on the ground, and his mouth twitched: "Zhao Hu has lost combat capability, Lin Fan wins!"

The whole Arena was silent.

Then it erupted into uproarious laughter!

"Hahahaha! Tripped? Zhao Hu got tripped?!"

"Laughing to death, such a big guy, fell like a dog eating excrement!"

"What kind of luck is this for Lin Fan?"

"Luck? Look closely at the replay! The timing and angle of Lin Fan's kick were perfect! It was exactly the moment when Zhao Hu's center of gravity was most unstable! This is insight! This is prediction!"

On the VIP stand, several family representatives frowned.

"Just taking advantage of a trick."

"In the next round, when he meets a real expert, these little tricks won't work."

Colonel Zhao, however, laughed: "This kid, he's still so good at saving effort."

On the Arena, Lin Fan slowly stepped down.

In his mind, the System notification sound tinkled:

【 Ding! Tripped a sturdy man in one move, contrast-style prestige, prestige value + 300! 】

【 Ding! Caused uproarious laughter and controversy in the whole venue, prestige value + 200! 】

【 Current prestige value: 780 points! 】

Lin Fan was in a good mood.

This is how it should be.

prestige value should be earned this way.

He returned to the rest area, closed his eyes to rest, and waited for the next round.

Su Muyu's match was at Arena 5. Her opponent was a youth wielding twin blades, Martial Master Early Stage.

The battle was very short.

Su Muyu only struck once.

The sword light was like water, sweeping past the gap between the twin blades and tapping the opponent's wrist.

The twin blades fell to the ground.

The opponent conceded.

Clean and neat.

"Su Muyu has also become stronger..." Lin Fan nodded secretly. "Her Sword Intent is more refined than during the school examination."

The first round of elimination matches ended quickly.

One hundred and ninety people advanced.

Second round, ninety-five matches.

Lin Fan's opponent was a girl wielding a long spear, named Hong Ying, blood qi value 1.8, her spear technique was sharp.

And then.

When she thrust her third spear strike, Lin Fan casually grabbed the spear shaft.

Gave it a pull.

The girl stumbled forward and collided right into him.

Duang~~~

"Got some skills!"

He sighed inwardly.

Hong Ying's face flushed red, she hurriedly let go of the spear handle and retreated.

This retreat.

She retreated a bit too much.

"Lin Fan wins!"

Third round, the key battle to decide the top ten!

Lin Fan's opponent finally came, someone decent.

"Arena 2: Lin Fan from Yuncheng Third High School versus Wang Hao from Yuncheng First High School!"

Wang Hao, fifth at First High, blood qi value 2.5, Martial Master Early Stage Peak, skilled in sword techniques.

He was Wang Teng's cousin.

Before going on stage, Wang Teng patted his shoulder and said coldly: "Don't hold back. Cripple him, and I will give you a Third Grade Breakthrough Pill."

Wang Hao's eyes were burning: "Brother Teng, rest assured!"

On the Arena.

Wang Hao drew his long sword, the tip pointing at Lin Fan, his tone arrogant: "Lin Fan, your first two rounds were just good luck, encountering trash. Now, your luck has run out."

Lin Fan yawned: "So much trash talk."

Wang Hao's face sank: "You're courting death!"

"Clear Wind Sword Technique—Wind Sweeps the Clouds!"

The sword light turned into a cyan whirlwind, covering the entire Arena! Sword Qi crisscrossed, slicing through the air!

Profound Rank Low Grade sword technique, he had practiced it to Minor Achievement!

Exclamations rang out from below the stage.

"Wang Hao is using his real skills!"

"This sword technique, even an ordinary Martial Master Early Stage can't block it!"

"Lin Fan is finished!"

In the VIP box, Wang Teng's mouth curled into a cold sneer.

However.

Amidst the whirlwind of sword light, Lin Fan's figure was like a ghost, every step landing in the gaps of the Sword Qi.

Subtle Steps Across Water, combined with his newly improved spiritual perception, Wang Hao's sword moves were full of flaws in his eyes.

Three seconds later, Lin Fan passed through the sword net and appeared in front of Wang Hao.

The distance between the two was less than half a meter.

Wang Hao's pupils constricted!

How is that possible?!

"Clear Wind Sword Technique?" Lin Fan pouted, "A complete mess!"