58: A slap

"Brother Yan, are we going straight for thirty-first place?"

Lian Chuan's face was filled with excitement.

Ever since he learned of Lin Yan's cultivation yesterday, he had been so excited that he hadn't slept all night.

Stage four, level six!

With Brother Yan's formidable combat strength, the core ranks are within reach!

On the other side, Xue Cheng wasn't much better; his ice-cold face was full of anticipation.

Too strong!

It was already inconceivable that they had reached stage three, level three over the winter break.

Yet Brother Yan was countless times more monstrous.

"Of course."

"It saves the trouble of dealing with a bunch of nonsense if the rank is too low."

Lin Yan looked toward the many figures already faintly visible ahead.

A fanatical atmosphere, comparable to the Freshman Grand Competition, rushed toward them.

Lian Chuan nodded.

"Mm."

"Then the first opponent is Cui Hu, ranked forty-sixth."

"His cultivation before winter break was stage four, level four."

Lin Yan nodded, saying nothing.

Xue Cheng glanced back behind them.

"Brother Yan."

"Many people from the peripheral villas have followed us."

Lian Chuan grinned.

"They just want to see Brother Yan's performance."

"We'll make their eyes pop out in a moment."

The three entered the outer villa area.

Immediately.

Numerous gazes shifted toward them simultaneously.

"The ones from the peripheral villas are here!"

"Lin Yan!"

"He really did come."

"The rules of the challenge matches."

"To maintain fairness for those on the martial ranking list."

"Each person has only one chance to challenge. A loss means total failure; only a victory allows for further challenges."

"Furthermore, the maximum ranking jump is five places."

"Which one will he choose between forty-sixth and fiftieth?"

"There's only one chance. I think he'll play it safe for the first battle; he definitely won't pick the highest possible rank."

"Then he'll have to wait a bit."

"Ranks forty-seven through fifty are all currently fighting."

"Only Cui Hu at rank forty-six has no one there for now."

Amidst the discussion.

Lin Yan glanced at the two fighting intensely outside outer villa number twenty and continued walking forward.

In the distance at the Martial Pavilion.

Several figures stood quietly, watching the situation on the twenty arenas.

"What do you think?"

"Which arena will this Lin Yan choose?"

Ping Cang's gaze fell upon the Youth in Black walking at a steady pace.

The several high-level officials of Magic Martial University behind him exchanged looks.

"He should probably wait for the rank forty-eight challenge to end."

"I think so too."

"At most, he might stop outside the rank forty-seven arena to wait."

"Hahaha."

"No matter which one it is."

"It will surely let the Yama of this time feel the strength of our Magic Martial Prodigies."

"The higher-ups made this arrangement."

"Wasn't it also to smooth out the sharp edges of this generation?"

Listening to these comments, a faint smile appeared on Ping Cang's face.

Just as they said, this was one of the reasons the Four Great Spirit Pools were opened so freely this time.

Especially this Lin Yan.

With his outlier-level strength, he needs to experience some setbacks.

This year is the best opportunity.

Because by this time next year, with the terror of the golden generation, they'll likely all have risen up.

And from another perspective, it's also a test for them from the higher-ups.

The Four Great Ones have stood above all schools for a long time; the higher-ups want to see if they still maintain their dominance when the scope is fully opened.

Just then.

"Oh?"

"He actually hasn't stopped."

"Going straight for forty-six?"

"He has that much confidence already?"

"I think this is just his usual style."

"Arrogant, disregarding everything."

"We'll see soon enough."

Under numerous gazes.

Lin Yan walked to the arena outside outer villa number sixteen and stood still.

*Hiss*.

"No way?"

Students from all grades of Magic Martial University cried out in surprise.

"He went straight for Cui Hu!"

Zuo Zhengqing, who had followed along, looked at Gong Ren.

Gong Ren nodded at him.

"One of them."

Zuo Zhengqing withdrew his gaze.

He sought him out himself... well, that works too.

"Are you sure you want to enter the arena?"

The staff member's tone was serious.

Lin Yan glanced at him.

*Thud!*

Stomping on the ground, he leaped directly onto the arena.

He answered the question with action.

"He's on the arena, holy crap!"

"He really chose Cui Hu!"

More and more gazes turned toward them.

Even many people who were watching the arenas further ahead began to crowd over here.

The first battle of the strongest freshman of the Golden Age.

No one wanted to miss a single detail.

Cui Hu was a sturdily built young man.

"Lin Yan."

He stared at the black-clad figure in front of him, coldness flashing in his eyes.

"I didn't expect you to come looking for a beating yourself."

Hmm?

Lin Yan, who was waiting for the referee to announce the start, raised an eyebrow.

This guy knows me?

To be precise, do we have a grudge?

Cui Hu keenly caught his expression and sneered.

"Right."

"Just someone you casually slapped onto the ground."

"How could you possibly remember?"

The crowd of spectators whispered among themselves.

"It seems Cui Hu has a conflict with Lin Yan."

"Seems so."

"Something about a slap."

Slapped onto the ground?

That's a bit of a broad range, buddy.

Lin Yan thought for a moment.

"Contestants, prepare."

The referee scanned the two of them.

Whatever.

Someone I can't remember must just be a minor side character.

Lin Yan looked up.

Cui Hu clenched his fists.

Good, good, good.

Can't remember, huh?

Then I'll press your head into the arena in a moment and make you remember clearly!

"Begin!"

The referee's figure dropped back.

Everyone watched without blinking.

"Die!"

Accompanied by a furious roar.

Cui Hu lifted his right foot, intending to charge forward.

However.

This foot, suspended in mid-air and yet to land, became his only move.

It wasn't that he couldn't land it, but that he had no chance.

Because the instant he lifted his foot, a violent thud of a step erupted on the arena.

A black shadow swept past with incredible speed, like a leopard pouncing on its prey, arriving in front of Cui Hu in the blink of an eye.

What?!

His eyes widened, his face filled with sheer horror.

Before he could react, a violent palm wind rushed toward his face.

"Roar!"

A tiger's roar.

Fierce Tiger Climbing the Mountain.

*Bang!*

Cui Hu's head was instantly struck by a heavy blow; his vision went black, and his body slammed heavily onto the ground.

Oh?

Lin Yan savored the feeling from just now and seemed to remember something.

Cui Hu... surname Cui.

A look of realization flashed across his face.

So it's a family member of that Cui Meng, the one he slapped onto the floor in the locker room during the Freshman Grand Competition?

No wonder he roared so loudly just now.

But he only had a loud voice.

It was still just a matter of one slap.

He turned his head toward the referee, who had yet to announce the result, frowned, and shifted his gaze back to the figure at his feet who was enjoying a very deep sleep.

Are these the arena rules of Magic Martial University?

Then let me give you a send-off.

Lin Yan lifted his foot.

*Bang!*

Another muffled sound.

*Pfft!*

The heavily unconscious Cui Hu took another heavy blow to the abdomen, spat out a mouthful of blood, and his body flew off the arena like a cannonball.

Huh?

Wait, no!!

This commotion finally startled the referee, who hadn't yet recovered from the shock of that single slap.

He immediately announced loudly.

"Lin Yan, challenge successful."

At the same time.

"Holy mother of god!"

The spectators also snapped back to their senses, crying out in shock.

"Cui Hu, with a stage four, level four cultivation, was just one-shotted by a slap?!!"

"Not only that."

"Yama is too brutal."

"A slap wasn't enough; he had to add a kick!"

"No, wait, brothers!"

"Someone give me a replay!"

"I didn't see clearly just now!"

"Did Yama reveal meridians?"

A senior student's expression was grave.

"That's the most terrifying part."

"He didn't reveal meridians."

"In other words, simply, easily."

"A single slap."

"His cultivation has definitely reached stage four."

"But we have no idea what level he's at."

Below the arena.

Xue Cheng's expression was indifferent, while Lian Chuan stood with his arms crossed.

They didn't even bother to cheer.

Today was destined to be a day of total annihilation.