59: Chapter 59 On the Eve of the Decisive Battle, the Reward for Risking the Nation

In the press conference hall of the competition organizing committee in Kyoto Base City.

Ever since Ye Fan revealed that "inhuman arm" during the semifinals, public opinion on the internet regarding "Imperial Capital Martial Arts University conducting illegal biological experiments" has been in an uproar.

To suppress this storm and refocus everyone's attention on the competition itself, the organizing committee dropped a bombshell on the eve of the finals.

"Silence!"

Commander Lei Zhen stood on the stage with a majestic expression. He scanned the restless reporters below and said in a deep voice:

"Regarding contestant Ye Fan's physical condition, after appraisal by the Martial Arts Association, it has been determined to be a special 'bloodline atavism' phenomenon. It meets the competition standards, and this matter ends here."

Without giving the reporters a chance to ask questions, Lei Zhen waved his hand. The large screen behind him instantly lit up, and projections of three items emitting brilliant light appeared before everyone's eyes.

"To commend the peerless geniuses who have emerged in this competition, with the approval of the Federal Supreme Council, this year's grand champion rewards will undergo an unprecedented upgrade!"

First item: [S-Class National Treasury Selection Right]

Allows for the arbitrary selection of one weapon, cultivation technique, or material from the Federation's highest-level national treasury.

That is a strategic reserve that even Grandmasters would covet!

Second item: [Pure-Blooded Dragon Race Potion (S-Class)]

A test tube filled with golden liquid.

"This is essence blood refined from the heart of a true Fourth Grade Peak sub-dragon beast. It can significantly strengthen the physical body and even offers a chance to awaken dragon race divine abilities!"

If the first two items were within everyone's understanding, the appearance of the third reward caused all the instructors and high-level officials present to stop breathing.

Third item: [Starry Sky Ancient Road Entry Qualification Token]

It was an ancient token, pitch-black as ink, with starlight specks shimmering on its surface.

"This is a ticket."

"A ticket leading beyond Earth to the vast cosmic battlefield. Only true geniuses are qualified to step onto that path and pursue the ultimate of martial arts!"

The Starry Sky Ancient Road!

It is a secret that, according to legend, only Grandmasters of the Sixth Grade and above or peerless monsters are qualified to know.

It is said that it connects to other civilizations, holding opportunities that surpass Earth's technology, but also accompanied by great horrors.

Contestant Village, Modu Martial Arts University Villa.

Lin Yuan, who was watching the live broadcast, was originally just leaning casually on the sofa. But the moment that black token appeared, the system that had been silent for a long time in his mind suddenly emitted an unprecedentedly violent vibration.

[Warning! Warning!]

[High-dimensional energy resonance detected!]

[Target Item: Starry Sky Ancient Road Token.]

[Correlation: 100%!]

[System Prompt: A signal reaction from a 'System Core Fragment' has been detected deep within this ancient road! Host must obtain it!]

"System fragment?"

Lin Yuan suddenly sat up straight, the laziness in his eyes swept away.

This was the first time the system had issued such a mandatory task guide. If the system could be completed, even with just one fragment, the improvement it would bring would likely be immeasurable.

"I originally just wanted to win a championship for fun."

"Now it seems I must have this championship."

After nightfall, while Lin Yuan was doing his final preparations, Lei Lie pushed the door open and entered. He held a thick file in his hand, his face as solemn as raw iron.

"Lin Yuan, the situation is even worse than we imagined."

Lei Lie slapped the file onto the table and pointed at a blurry photo—it was a high-definition enlargement of Ye Fan after his transformation.

"We had biology experts analyze it. What Ye Fan transplanted wasn't ordinary lizard bloodline, but a hegemon-level creature from the depths of the catacombs—the Catacomb Dragon Lizard."

"This monster has two characteristics: first, its physical defense is extremely high; that layer of scales can withstand alloy weapons of the same rank. Second, and the most troublesome point..."

Lei Lie pointed to his temple:

"It comes with 'Dragon Might.' This spiritual pressure from a high-order lifeform naturally counters Mentalists. When your Spiritual Piercing hits him, the effect will be weakened by at least fifty percent. And if your flying daggers can't break through his defense, once he gets close..."

The consequences go without saying.

"Can't break his defense?"

Lin Yuan looked at the layer of scales shimmering with green light in the photo: "Since I can't break his defense, it means my daggers... aren't fast enough, aren't hard enough."

He stood up and poured a large pile of things out of his storage ring with a clatter.

Inside were rare ores he had scavenged from Ghost Island, spoils of war from annihilating the Pantheon Cult, and top-tier materials he had just exchanged using the massive amount of credits and cash he had earned over the past few days.

It was almost his entire net worth.

"Director Lei, help me protect the dharma."

A look of determination flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes:

"Tonight, I'm going to be a spendthrift."

[System, activate Devour and Smelt Mode!]

Buzz—!

Nine [cicada wing] flying daggers hovered in mid-air.

Lin Yuan picked up a piece of B-Class "Armor-Piercing Steel" worth five million and threw it directly to the system to devour.

"Devour!"

Next was a piece of A-Class "Black Meteor Gold" (worth ten million).

"Devour!"

Then the remaining part of the "Void-Splitting Silver Essence"...

Countless precious materials turned into streams of light, frantically surging into the nine flying daggers.

He pushed the Chaos God Grinder Visualization Technique to its limit, using spiritual power as a hammer to perform a secondary reshaping of the flying daggers on a microscopic level.

"Simple sharpness isn't enough."

Lin Yuan recalled the inspiration from the spiral point-kill he used when dealing with Miao Linger.

"I want to engrave patterns on the blade bodies."

Controlling his spiritual power like carving flowers on a grain of rice, he etched "Spiral Penetration Patterns" invisible to the naked eye onto the extremely thin blade of each flying dagger.

This was an extremely crazy attempt; with even a slight mistake, the flying daggers would be ruined.

As time passed minute by minute, materials worth over a hundred million disappeared at a visible rate.

Finally, at the moment just before dawn arrived.

Clang—!!!

Nine brand-new flying daggers hovered before Lin Yuan.

They were no longer the previous translucent color but had turned into a deep dark silver. Strange spiral patterns flowed on the surface of the blades, as if even light approaching would be distorted and pierced.

[Cicada Wing: End (S-Class Prototype)]

[New Trait: Absolute Penetration (Ignores physical defense below A-Class, deals 200% destruction damage to dragon scale/carapace-type creatures).]

"Good daggers."

Lin Yuan reached out, and the nine flying daggers obediently rested against his fingertips. Although he had spent all his savings, this wave of enhancement gave him the confidence to slay a dragon.

The night breeze on the rooftop was slightly cool. Lin Yuan, who had just finished his secluded cultivation, did not rest immediately but came to the rooftop to catch the breeze.

A small table had already been set up there with a few bottles of beer and a plate of barbecue. Xiang Lie and Su Xiaoxiao were sitting there, staring blankly at the lights of the Bird's Nest in the distance.

"What? Seeing me off?"

Lin Yuan walked over, took a bite of a kidney skewer, and teased with a smile, "Why make the atmosphere so tragic? It's not like I'm going to my death."

"Pah, pah, pah! Words of a child carry no weight!"

Su Xiaoxiao glared at him fiercely and stuffed a bottle of beer into Lin Yuan's hand, her eyes a bit red.

"Captain, I've checked. That Ye Fan is a monster now. If you really can't beat him... just admit defeat. Anyway, we're already the runners-up; it's not shameful."

"Yeah, Old Lin," Xiang Lie said with rare seriousness. "Although that national destiny reward is good, life is more important. If you end up missing an arm or a leg, how is our 'Judgment Team' supposed to get by?"

Looking at these two teammates who were usually carefree but were now full of worry, a warm current flowed through his heart.

"Don't worry."

Lin Yuan raised his beer bottle and clinked it with the two of them, his eyes shining with confident light.

"I'm a rather greedy person."

"I don't want the runner-up spot; I only want the championship."

"As for that half-human, half-beast monster..."

Lin Yuan took a sip of beer, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"It just so happens my new shoes are short of material. I think that lizard skin of his is quite suitable for making a pair of leather shoes."

"Pfft!" Su Xiaoxiao burst into laughter through her tears. "Captain, you're so wicked! You even want crocodile skin!"

"Hahaha! Then it's a deal! If we win tomorrow, I want a pair too!" Xiang Lie laughed loudly.

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the dome of the Kyoto Bird's Nest Stadium, it had already turned into a boiling ocean.

All one hundred thousand seats were filled, and over a million people gathered outside to watch the big screen. The number of people online for the global live broadcast even surpassed a staggering ten billion!

This was the peak battle of the Federation's younger generation!

[National Hundred Schools Hegemony Competition · Grand Finals]

[Modu Martial Arts University VS Imperial Capital Martial Arts University]

"Contestants, please enter the arena!!"

In the left tunnel, black mist swirled.

Ye Fan wore a loose black robe that covered his mutated body, but with every step he took, the surrounding air seemed to solidify a bit. The suffocating, violent aura made the audience in the front rows shiver involuntarily.

In the right tunnel, a gentle breeze brushed past.

Lin Yuan was still in his simple Modu team uniform, hands in his pockets, and even chewing gum. He didn't fly but instead walked up the steps steadily, step by step.

But with every step he took, the momentum on his body rose a notch.

The moment he stood on the arena stage, his entire being was like an unsheathed sharp sword, its brilliance fully revealed, piercing straight into the clouds!

The two stood still in the center of the arena, ten meters apart.

Before the referee could announce the start, two terrifying auras had already undergone a physical collision in the air.

Sizzle!

Visible sparks and the sound of thunder actually erupted in the air.

"Lin Yuan."

In Ye Fan's vertical pupils, there was nothing but venomous malice: "Today, this arena will be your grave."

Lin Yuan spat out his gum. With a slight thought, nine dark silver flying daggers slowly emerged behind him like a peacock spreading its tail.

He looked at Ye Fan and replied flatly:

"You talk too much."

"Show your health bar."