39: You're next

The atmosphere on the square was heavy.

Jiang Shengtian sat in the main seat, his face ashen, showing no emotion.

His gaze swept over the crowd below, whose expressions varied, finally landing on Lin Fan, who was unconscious and bound by chains by the enforcement Disciples.

"Wake him up."

The authoritative voice left no room for doubt.

An enforcement Disciple immediately stepped forward, took out a Medicinal Pill that exuded a refreshing aura, and put it into Lin Fan's mouth.

As the Medicinal Pill entered his mouth, Lin Fan trembled, and his eyes snapped open.

The madness and savagery in his eyes had not yet faded. He struggled to get up but found himself bound by a special Magic Treasure chain, his spiritual power completely Sealed.

"Lin Fan."

Jiang Shengtian's voice, like heavenly might, boomed in Lin Fan's mind.

"Do you admit your guilt?"

Lin Fan raised his head and met Jiang Shengtian's eyes, which seemed to pierce through everything. Instead of showing any fear, he grinned and laughed.

"Guilt? What guilt do I have?"

He looked around, at his fellow Disciples who were pointing and whispering about him, at the Elders on the high platform with their indifferent expressions. Finally, his gaze locked onto Jiang Chen.

"I just want to reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to me! I just want those who looked down on me and bullied me to pay the price! Is that considered a crime?!"

"If that is a crime, then I, Lin Fan, accept it!"

These words made many Disciples present frown.

Even at this point, he still showed no remorse.

"Stubborn and unrepentant."

Jiang Shengtian coldly uttered four words, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"Father."

Just then, Jiang Chen suddenly spoke.

He stood up from his seat and slowly walked to the edge of the high platform, looking down at Lin Fan.

"The Sect Grand Competition has its rules."

Jiang Chen's voice was calm and clear.

"Since he entered the top five by his own ability, he has the qualification to continue the competition. If he is convicted now, wouldn't it make the world laugh at my Hongtian Holy Land for not even being able to tolerate a mere Disciple and arbitrarily changing the rules?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience was in an uproar.

No one expected that the Saint Jiang Chen would actually speak up for Lin Fan.

Even Lin Fan himself was stunned, looking at Jiang Chen with a bewildered expression, wondering what he was planning.

Jiang Shengtian took a deep look at his son and instantly understood Jiang Chen's intention.

Killing a mad Lin Fan held no meaning.

But allowing a mad Lin Fan to be personally crushed by him in front of everyone, with an absolutely overwhelming posture, would carry a completely different meaning.

"Chen'er is right."

He nodded, and his authoritative voice rang out again.

"The Grand Competition continues. Lin Fan will be temporarily detained, and his Seal will be removed when it's his turn to compete."

"Yes!"

The enforcement Disciples acknowledged the order and dragged away the struggling and roaring Lin Fan.

A disturbance was thus lightly resolved by Jiang Chen.

After a brief rest, the final round of the Grand Competition finally began.

The final ranking battle for the top five.

The rules were simple: a round-robin format by drawing lots. The winner gained one point, the loser gained none, and the final ranking was determined by points.

The first match was Qing Linghe against Wen Yan.

The two stepped onto the stage and smiled at each other.

"Junior Sister, please."

"Senior Brother, please."

Then, before anyone could react, both of them bowed to the presiding Elder simultaneously.

"We'll call it a draw."

The presiding Elder's mouth twitched, but he still announced the result.

One of them preferred quietness over fighting, and the other had no interest in rankings at all, so their decision was understandable.

The second match was Xiao Tiandu against Song Ningxue.

This was a true clash of titans.

One was the top Core Disciple, his sword strikes like thunder, incomparably dominant.

The other was a Formation Genius, capable of freezing a thousand miles, controlling the entire field.

The two exchanged no idle chatter and immediately began to fight.

Sword light collided with ice crystals, and thunder intertwined with frost.

The entire battle stage was half a raging sea of thunder and half a desolate mist of ice.

Two completely different, yet equally powerful forces, violently clashed and annihilated each other.

This battle lasted for a full half-hour.

In the end, Xiao Tiandu proved to be superior.

He broke through Song Ningxue's Formation with a single sword strike, the tip of his sword stopping before her throat.

"I lost."

Song Ningxue's face was a little pale, but her eyes remained calm.

"Thank you for the match."

Xiao Tiandu sheathed his sword. This battle left all spectators thoroughly satisfied.

The subsequent matches were also mostly without suspense.

Xiao Tiandu undoubtedly defeated Qing Linghe and Wen Yan.

Song Ningxue also easily defeated the other two.

Soon, only one person remained in the round-robin, Lin Fan.

The enforcement Disciples brought him onto the battle stage and removed the Seal on his body.

The first thing Lin Fan did after regaining his power was to cast his venomous gaze towards Xiao Tiandu.

In his opinion, as long as he defeated this top Core Disciple, he could prove that he was the strongest!

"Xiao Tiandu! Do you dare to fight me!" Lin Fan roared.

However, the result of the draw was Song Ningxue against Lin Fan.

Song Ningxue walked onto the battle stage expressionlessly, looking at Lin Fan opposite her, who was exuding an ominous aura, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes.

"Falling into the Demonic Path, disgracing the reputation of my Holy Land, you deserve to die."

Her voice was cold, and without giving Lin Fan any chance to speak, she directly raised her hand.

"Formation activate, Ice Prison."

Buzz!

A massive Formation, ten times more complex than the one that had previously trapped the Core Disciple, instantly formed and enveloped Lin Fan.

Endless cold Qi surged from all directions.

Lin Fan found that his Devilish Qi, under this extreme cold, was suppressed and contracted inch by inch, and a thick layer of frost condensed on the surface of his skin.

He frantically urged the power of the devil core, wanting to break through the Formation's restraints.

However, Song Ningxue simply stood calmly outside the Formation, her hands continuously changing hand Seals.

The cold Qi within the Formation grew heavier and heavier.

Lin Fan's movements became increasingly sluggish, and the layer of ice on his body grew thicker and thicker.

Eventually, he was completely frozen into a black ice sculpture, his life force extinguished.

"Cleansing the Sect."

Song Ningxue said lightly, then turned to step off the stage.

However, just at this moment...

"Crack."

A faint cracking sound came from the black ice sculpture.

Song Ningxue's footsteps paused, and she sharply turned her head.

She saw a crack appear on the ice sculpture.

Immediately after, a second, a third... "Boom!"

The ice sculpture exploded!

An aura even more violent and chaotic than before surged into the sky!

Lin Fan stood in place, completely unharmed.

No, he could no longer be called a human.

His body had swelled, his skin was covered with eerie black demonic patterns, and his eyes were pure, crimson, devoid of any reason.

He raised his head and looked at the solemn Song Ningxue.

"Thanks to you, you helped me... completely Fuse with this power."

Before his words finished, his figure vanished from its original spot.

Song Ningxue's pupils contracted sharply, an alarm bell ringing wildly in her heart. Without thinking, she deployed several layers of defensive Formations around her.

"Too late."

Lin Fan's voice, like a ghost, rang in her ear.

A sharp claw covered in black scales easily tore through her protective Formation and slammed into her lower abdomen.

"Pfft!"

Song Ningxue was struck as if by lightning, a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, and she flew backward, heavily falling off the battle stage.

The entire venue was silent.

No one expected such a dramatic reversal of the situation!

Lin Fan stood on the stage, feeling the unprecedented power within him, and laughed wildly, looking up at the sky.

His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on the white figure.

"Jiang Chen!"

"You're next!"