35: Look, you're anxious again.

On the battle arena below, the fighting was in full swing, with spiritual power explosions echoing one after another.

But on the viewing platform high above, the true great figures seemed somewhat unenthusiastic.

Jiang Chen was so sleepy from watching that he simply closed his eyes.

"Brother Shengtian, your Holy Land's Disciples seem to be much stronger than they were a hundred years ago," Nangong Zhuo said with a smile to Jiang Shengtian, putting down his teacup.

"Brother Nangong, you flatter me."

Jiang Shengtian's expression was calm. "It's just some childish antics among the juniors; the real competition hasn't even begun yet."

As soon as he finished speaking, on a battle arena below, the victor was decided.

A Core Disciple used only three moves to shatter his opponent's protective Magic Treasure and kick him off the arena.

Immediately after, as if by prior arrangement, the battles of the True Disciples began one after another.

"Next up, True Disciple Xiao Tiandu versus Inner Sect Disciple Zhao Qian!"

As the voice of the Elder in charge rang out, all eyes instantly converged on one of the battle arenas.

Xiao Tiandu slowly walked onto the arena, still maintaining his calm and unperturbed demeanor.

His opponent, the Inner Sect Disciple named Zhao Qian, held a long spear, and fine beads of sweat had already seeped onto his forehead.

Facing this Senior Brother, even his breathing became difficult.

"Junior Brother Zhao, please," Xiao Tiandu said concisely.

"Please... Please Senior Brother, instruct me!" Zhao Qian roared, bolstering his courage, and pushing his spiritual power to the limit. He thrust his spear forward, the spear moving like a Dragon, bringing forth gusts of wind and thunder, its momentum quite extraordinary.

However, Xiao Tiandu merely watched silently.

He only moved at the very last moment, just as the spear tip was about to touch the hem of his robe.

No one saw him draw his sword clearly.

Only a soft clang was heard, and an extremely fast sword light flashed and disappeared.

Zhao Qian's charging figure came to an abrupt halt, and the long spear in his hand broke into two pieces.

A faint line of blood emerged from his neck.

He stood frozen in place, not daring to move, cold sweat trickling down his temples.

"You lost."

Xiao Tiandu sheathed his sword and turned to walk off the battle arena; the entire process took no more than three breaths.

The entire venue was first silent, then erupted in thunderous cheers.

"So strong! I didn't even see how Senior Brother Xiao drew his sword!"

"Is this the strength of the number one True Disciple? Terrifying!"

Immediately after, Song Ningxue's match also began.

Her opponent was also a Core Disciple, who, knowing the huge disparity in strength, simply brought out his ultimate defensive Magic Treasure from the start, a giant golden bell shadow firmly protecting him.

Song Ningxue merely raised her delicate hand and lightly tapped the air.

Buzz!

Centered on her opponent, an intricate and profound ice-blue Formation appeared out of thin air, instantly enveloping him.

A bone-chilling cold permeated the air; the Disciple didn't even have time to let out a scream, and he, along with the golden bell shadow, was frozen into a crystal-clear ice sculpture.

"Thank you for the concession."

Song Ningxue turned away indifferently and gracefully departed.

Afterward, Qing Linghe and Wen Yan also made their moves.

Qing Linghe's opponent was entangled by countless vines, unable to move, and obediently surrendered.

Wen Yan was even more outrageous; he fanned himself with a peach blossom fan, dodging his opponent's storm-like attacks while muttering to himself.

"Oh my, Junior Brother, your fist technique is quite fierce, but your lower body isn't very stable."

"Oh dear, be careful, be careful, your left side is wide open, that won't do."

"Tsk, such a fiery temper, you won't find a Dao Companion with that."

His opponent was so enraged by him that he roared, his technique falling into disarray, and finally, Wen Yan lightly tapped his backside with the fan, sending him flying directly off the battle arena, landing face-first in the dirt.

The four True Disciples, four battles, all ended in easy victories with absolute crushing dominance.

This gave the Disciples present a deeper understanding of the true value of the title "True Disciple."

Just then, a completely different aura appeared on one of the battle arenas.

It was a young man with an ordinary face, but his eyes were filled with madness and venom.

Furthermore, a faint, black-red mist swirled around him, giving off an extremely ominous feeling.

It was Lin Fan.

"It's Lin Fan! That Inner Sect Disciple Lin Fan!"

"How did he get on stage? His opponent is Senior Brother Li Mu, right? He's a formidable Cultivator in the Late Stage Nascent Soul of the Sixth Realm!"

"This Lin Fan's aura... it's so strange, it makes me feel very uncomfortable."

Discussions buzzed through the crowd.

On the battle arena, Li Mu looked at Lin Fan opposite him, his brows tightly furrowed.

He also sensed that sinister aura, and a strong sense of alarm rose in his heart.

"Junior Brother Lin, you..."

He was about to say something, but Lin Fan gave him no chance.

"Die!"

Lin Fan let out a roar from his throat, and his entire body transformed into a black-red afterimage, instantly covering tens of meters and appearing before Li Mu.

He didn't use any Magic Treasure, simply unleashing a punch.

On his fist, dense Devilish Qi surged, as if countless vengeful spirits were howling.

Li Mu's face turned pale with fright; he hastily activated all his spiritual power, setting up layers of defense in front of him.

However, these defensive spiritual lights, which were enough to withstand a full-power blow from a Cultivator of the same cultivation level, were torn apart instantly before Lin Fan's Devilish Qi-filled fist, as if they were made of paper!

"Pfft!"

The fist landed squarely on Li Mu's chest.

Li Mu's chest visibly caved in at a speed perceptible to the naked eye, and his entire body flew backward like a cannonball, heavily crashing against the protective light barrier at the edge of the battle arena, then sliding to the ground, spewing blood from his mouth.

He struggled twice, then completely fainted, his fate unknown.

One punch!

With just one punch, he severely injured an Inner Sect Disciple in the Late Stage Nascent Soul of the Sixth Realm!

The entire venue was utterly silent.

Everyone was stunned by Lin Fan's bloody and domineering display.

Lin Fan stood on the battle arena, his chest heaving violently. As he felt the surging power within him and the fearful gazes of the crowd, an unprecedented sense of pleasure welled up in his heart.

He slowly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes piercing through the dense crowd, locking firmly onto the leisurely tea-drinking white figure on the highest viewing platform.

He raised his hand and made a throat-slitting gesture in Jiang Chen's direction.

Venom, madness, and provocation, completely undisguised!

The atmosphere of the entire square instantly dropped to freezing point.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily shifted back and forth between Lin Fan and Jiang Chen.

He's crazy!

This Lin Fan, he's completely lost his mind!

He dared to openly provoke the Saint in front of the entire Holy Land, and even the powerful figures of the entire Eastern Barren Land!

However, facing this blatant provocation, Jiang Chen didn't even lift an eyelid.

He seemed to not have seen Lin Fan at all, nor did he feel that venomous gaze.

He merely turned his head, casting his gaze towards Su Qinger nearby, a smile even gracing his lips.

This ultimate disregard was more damaging than any angry response.

The smugness and madness on Lin Fan's face instantly solidified.

"Jiang Chen!!!"

He couldn't help but roar out.

And Su Qinger, after feeling Jiang Chen's gaze, met his eyes, sighed softly, and then withdrew her gaze.

In her eyes, there was no longer the previous panic or confusion, only a sense of calm after the dust had settled.

Looking at the mad Lin Fan on the battle arena, her heart no longer felt the slightest ripple.