211: Chapter 211 Ranked Battle

The next day, Tianjiao Platform.

A hundred thousand people gathered at the Martial Arts Arena, the sound of their voices like crashing waves.

Today was the final ranking battle of the Myriad Races Heavenly Pride Assembly. The ten young powerhouses who had advanced would face off in turns to decide who was the number one of the Human Realm's younger generation.

Lin Fan stood in the contestant preparation area, his expression calm.

His opponent for the first match had already been announced: Qian Duoduo of the Wanbao Pavilion.

"Interesting." The corner of Lin Fan's mouth curled slightly.

Qian Duoduo had been observing him throughout the chaotic battle, clearly plotting something. Now that they were facing each other directly, he wanted to see what the Young Lord of the Wanbao Pavilion was planning.

"First match: Lin Fan of the Lin family versus Qian Duoduo of the Wanbao Pavilion!" The referee's voice echoed throughout the arena.

Lin Fan leaped onto the high platform. Opposite him, Qian Duoduo walked up with a beaming smile.

"Brother Lin, I have long looked forward to meeting you," Qian Duoduo said with a cupped-fist salute and a smile. "After seeing you yesterday, I knew you were no ordinary person. I hope you'll go easy on me in today's sparring."

Lin Fan said indifferently, "Brother Qian is too polite. Please."

A glint flashed in Qian Duoduo's eyes, and he wasted no more words.

With a wave of his hand, three Magic Treasures flew out simultaneously. A golden shield floated in front of him, protecting his entire body; a silver longsword hung above his head, its tip pointing directly at Lin Fan; and a black bead rotated in his palm, emitting an eerie aura.

"Three Magic Treasures, both offensive and defensive," Lin Fan mentally assessed. "This Young Lord of the Wanbao Pavilion is indeed wealthy and powerful."

"Brother Lin, watch out!"

With a low shout from Qian Duoduo, the silver longsword flew out first, turning into a streak of light aimed straight at Lin Fan's throat. Simultaneously, the black bead in his palm suddenly erupted, and a cloud of black mist enveloped half the stage, obscuring all vision.

Lin Fan closed his eyes, and his Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils activated automatically.

The black mist was as good as non-existent in his eyes. He clearly saw the trajectory of the silver longsword and also spotted Qian Duoduo quietly circling behind him, a short blade now in his hand.

"Thinking of a sneak attack?" A cold smile played on the corner of Lin Fan's lips.

He neither dodged nor avoided it. He raised his right hand and opened his fingers, starlight surging in his palm.

Clang! The silver longsword struck his palm, producing a crisp metallic sound. The sword's body shook violently and was actually sent flying back by the shock.

Qian Duoduo's expression changed.

His Silver Blade Sword was a High Grade Spiritual Artifact. Under a full-strength strike, even a Realm Lord Realm Cultivator wouldn't dare take it head-on. How could Lin Fan, a mere Late Stage Divine Power Realm, block it with just his palm?

"No, his hand..." Qian Duoduo looked closely and found a faint layer of starlight flowing over the surface of Lin Fan's palm. It was that layer of starlight that had blocked the Silver Blade Sword's edge.

"What Cultivation Technique is this?"

Qian Duoduo was shocked, but his hands didn't stop. His figure blurred as he stabbed the short blade toward Lin Fan's ribs from the side. This strike was fast, ruthless, and aimed at a tricky angle; an ordinary Cultivator wouldn't have been able to react in time. But Lin Fan was no ordinary Cultivator.

He didn't even turn his head. He reached back with his left hand and firmly caught the blade of the short knife.

"What?!" Qian Duoduo was completely stunned.

The short blade was held in Lin Fan's hand, motionless, as if gripped by iron pincers.

"Brother Qian, your Magic Treasure is not bad," Lin Fan turned around and looked at him, saying indifferently. "But no matter how good a Magic Treasure is, it depends on who is using it."

With a jerk of his wrist, a massive force traveled through the short blade into Qian Duoduo's hand. Qian Duoduo felt a numbness in the webbing of his thumb, and the short blade flew out of his hand.

"It's my turn."

Lin Fan took a step forward and threw a straight right punch.

For this punch, he only used half his strength, but wherever the fist wind passed, the air let out a piercing screech.

Qian Duoduo was terrified and hastily activated his golden shield to block in front of him.

Bang! The punch smashed into the shield, causing the golden shield to vibrate violently and cracks to appear on its surface.

Qian Duoduo's face turned pale. He hurriedly pulled out two more defensive Magic Treasures to block his front.

Bang! Bang! Lin Fan threw two consecutive punches, and the two Magic Treasures shattered upon impact.

Qian Duoduo's soul was flying away and his spirit scattering in fear. He turned around, wanting to flee the stage.

"I forfeit! I forfeit!" He scrambled and jumped off the high platform, his face full of terror.

The entire arena fell silent.

Three punches. Lin Fan had used only three punches to shatter three defensive Magic Treasures of the Wanbao Pavilion's Young Lord, scaring him into surrendering voluntarily.

"Isn't this too strong?"

"A Late Stage Divine Power Realm defeating a Realm Lord Realm with three punches? How is this possible?"

"I heard he once defeated Lin Hong of the Realm Lord Realm with one punch. It turns out it was true!"

Discussions rose like a tide.

Lin Fan stood on the stage, his expression calm, as if he had only done something insignificant.

The referee snapped out of it and hastily announced, "First match, Lin Fan wins!"

Lin Fan leaped down from the high platform and returned to the preparation area.

Su Qingyu came to meet him, her face full of amazement. "Young Master Lin, you're too incredible! Qian Duoduo's defensive Magic Treasures were all High Grade Spiritual Artifacts, yet you shattered them in three punches?"

Lin Fan said indifferently, "Magic Treasures are external objects after all; one's own strength is the foundation."

Su Qingyu nodded, a strange light flashing in her eyes.

In the next few matches, Lin Fan faced several other prodigies in turn. In every match, he defeated his opponent in no more than five moves.

His ranking soared all the way up.

Finally, it was time for the last match.

"Final match: Lin Fan of the Lin family versus Qin Wuji of the Taixu Sect!"

The entire arena was boiling with excitement.

Qin Wuji, the Saint of the Taixu Sect, Middle Stage Realm Lord Realm, with Sword Intent that reached the heavens, was hailed as the "number one of the Human Realm's younger generation." From the start of the assembly until now, he hadn't even drawn his sword, forcing all his opponents to retreat with just his Sword Intent. Meanwhile, Lin Fan, with his Late Stage Divine Power Realm cultivation, had overcome all obstacles and remained undefeated.

This duel was the most anticipated battle of the entire assembly.

Lin Fan leaped onto the high platform. Opposite him, Qin Wuji stood with his hands behind his back, his white clothes as pure as snow, his aura transcendent.

"Lin Fan," Qin Wuji looked at him and said indifferently, "You are very strong. But the Divine Power Realm is still the Divine Power Realm; you are not my match."

Lin Fan smiled. "How will we know if we don't try?"

Qin Wuji nodded. He raised his right hand, and a transparent longsword condensed in his palm, its body flowing with sharp Sword Intent.

"This sword is named 'Taixu.' I condensed it using my life's Sword Intent. Lin Fan, if you can withstand this strike, I will concede." As soon as he finished speaking, he struck with his sword. This strike had no fancy techniques, only Sword Intent purified to the extreme.

Wherever the Sword Intent passed, space itself seemed to be torn apart, and a visible crack appeared in the air.

Lin Fan's pupils constricted slightly. This strike was even stronger than he had imagined. But he did not retreat. He took a deep breath, and the Indestructible Star Solstice Art within him operated frantically. The Power of the Stars in his skin, muscles, and meridians erupted simultaneously, condensing into a brilliant starlight on his fist.

"Indestructible Star Solstice Art, Second Form: Star-Shattering Heavens!" He threw a punch. Fist and sword collided.

Boom! A thunderous explosion rang out, and the entire Tianjiao Platform shook. The Formation Restrictions on the high platform flickered violently, nearly collapsing.

A hundred thousand people all paled.

As the dust settled, Lin Fan and Qin Wuji stood facing each other on the platform.

There was a shallow bloodstain on Lin Fan's fist, which was healing at a visible rate. Qin Wuji's transparent longsword had mostly shattered, with only half the blade remaining.

"You withstood it." Qin Wuji looked at him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Lin Fan said indifferently, "You lost."

Qin Wuji was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Well done, Lin Fan. I, Qin Wuji, have traveled the Human Realm for ten years and have never encountered an opponent like you."

He withdrew his broken sword and turned to walk down the platform.

"This match, I concede."

The entire arena was in an uproar.

Qin Wuji conceded?

The number one of the Human Realm's younger generation actually conceded?

The referee was stunned for a long while before announcing, "Final match, Lin Fan wins! The final ranking of this Myriad Races Heavenly Pride Assembly—First Place, Lin Fan of the Lin family!"

The cheers were deafening.

Lin Fan stood on the high platform, his expression calm as his gaze swept across the arena.

He saw the joy all over Su Qingyu's face, the complex look in Xia Hao's eyes, the gloomy expression of Qian Duoduo, and at the highest point of the stands, a Grey-robed old man staring at him coldly.

That gaze was as cold and sinister as a venomous snake.

Lin Fan's heart stirred.

Was that person the mysterious guest invited by Great Elder Lin Yuan?

Just then, the soul-devouring powder suppressed within his body suddenly became restless.

Someone was secretly activating the poison.

"It's coming."

Lin Fan sneered inwardly, but his expression suddenly changed. He staggered back two steps, his face turning pale.

"What's happening?"

"What happened to Lin Fan?"

The crowd cried out in alarm.

Lin Fan clutched his chest, his face in pain. The Power of the Stars within him began to grow chaotic, as if it could go out of control at any moment.

On the stands, the Grey-robed old man's lips curled into a cold, sinister smile.

Just now is the time.

Lin Fan, die.