After learning the rules of the Yanhuang List, the group decided to accompany Lin Yun to sign up the next day. Chen Xin and Li Ji even decided to stay at Wangcai’s place so they could all go together in the morning.

After dinner, night fell. Lin Yun was cultivating cross-legged in his room when he heard a knock on the door. He opened it to find Chen Xin. ’It’s so late, what is she doing here?’ Lin Yun asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Aren’t you going to invite me in?" Chen Xin replied with a slight smile, not answering his question.

He invited Chen Xin into his room. After they sat down, Lin Yun brewed her a cup of tea. "It’s so late. You’re not here to talk me out of it, are you?"

Hearing his words, Chen Xin held the teacup and said softly, "No. I know you won’t back down."

At that moment, Chen Xin had the air of a gentle young lady. While she might not have been as stunning as Lu Bingning or Lan Xi, Lin Yun found she possessed a unique charm of her own.

Taking a sip of tea, Lin Yun shared what was on his mind with Chen Xin. "Actually, participating in the Yanhuang List isn’t entirely for Wangcai. I have my own reasons, though his father’s situation is certainly a major part of it."

"They’re called the ten strongest people in Yanhuang Country. I want to see for myself what they’re like. I carry a heavy burden, and my enemy is terrifyingly powerful—practically invincible. Only by constantly improving, growing, and tempering myself can I ever hope to get close to him, to fulfill the oath in my heart..."

Lin Yun spoke slowly. The invincible enemy he mentioned was, of course, the Divine Emperor of the Divine Realm, but he couldn’t tell Chen Xin that. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Listening to him and watching him quietly, Chen Xin discovered that in this moment, Lin Yun possessed a world-weariness that didn’t belong to someone his age. Not even her own father had ever made her feel this way.

At that moment, Lin Yun was like a lone wolf licking its wounds in solitude. It had suffered a fatal blow, but this wolf had not bowed to fate. It was stubbornly clinging to life—enduring, surviving—just waiting for the right moment to bare its sharpest fangs at destiny and its enemies once more.

For some reason, seeing him like this caused a sudden ache in Chen Xin’s heart. She could feel that he carried a pain he couldn’t share with anyone.

She moved to Lin Yun’s side and, before he could react, quickly planted a kiss on his face. Blushing, she then dashed out of the room.

"I believe in you! But don’t be reckless in the Yanhuang List." She was already gone, but her voice drifted back to Lin Yun’s ears.

The spot where Chen Xin had kissed him still carried her unique, fresh scent. A smile touched Lin Yun’s lips—a smile that was bittersweet, yet happy.

’I’ve known about Chen Xin’s feelings from the beginning,’ Lin Yun thought. ’But right now, I don’t have time to think about these things. Strength is my number one priority.’

’Reuniting my family, ending the threat from the Royal Family, taking revenge—all of it depends on strength. So, even though I know how Chen Xin feels, I can’t afford to get distracted.’

Pushing all these thoughts aside, Lin Yun forced himself to stop thinking and focus on his cultivation.

The night passed quickly. The next morning, after having breakfast at Wangcai’s house, the group headed towards the Yanhuang Martial Arts Arena.

The Capital City was huge. At the center of this vast city lay the Imperial Palace. And one shouldn’t underestimate the palace; its grounds alone were no smaller than Yunlu County City.

You could say the Imperial Palace was a city within the city. Only members of the Royal Family could enter and leave freely. Outsiders required royal approval to get in.

The Yanhuang Battle Arena was located in the Outer Palace.

The group arrived at the dedicated registration point for the Yanhuang List. Lin Yun explained his purpose to the soldier on duty. The soldier glanced at Lin Yun, saw that his cultivation was only at the First Layer of Qi Sea Realm, and a look of contempt immediately appeared on his face.

Even knowing Lin Yun was a disciple from the Academy’s Genius Class, the soldier didn’t bother to hide his disdain. He was different from the city gate guards; he was part of the Royal Family’s personal Forbidden Guard Army, responsible only for the safety of the Imperial Palace.

Throughout all of Yanhuang Country, the Forbidden Guard Army was the most formidable force. Even the lowest-ranking soldiers had a cultivation of at least the Qi Sea Realm. Below the Qi Sea Realm, you couldn’t even dream of joining.

"First Layer of Qi Sea Realm... Out of consideration for you being a student of the Genius Class, I’ll give you some advice: if you challenge the Yanhuang List now, you won’t last a single match. You might even end up dead on the arena." The soldier’s tone was cold as he delivered the warning.

Knowing the man looked down on him, Lin Yun didn’t bother to argue. He replied with equal indifference, "Thanks. Just sign me up as quickly as possible."

"Ignorant," the soldier muttered upon hearing Lin Yun’s response.

Afterward, at the registration desk, Lin Yun signed a life-and-death agreement. With that, his registration for the Yanhuang List was complete.

"The first round is today."

The first round required winning ten consecutive matches on the Yanhuang Martial Arts Arena. Only by winning ten in a row could one qualify as a candidate for the Yanhuang List and advance to the second round.

As expected, Lin Yun led Chen Xin and the other two into the Yanhuang Martial Arts Arena. Upon entering, he was surprised to find the place was exceptionally crowded.

Furthermore, judging by their attire, they all seemed to be children of wealthy families.

Surprised to see so many people at the Yanhuang Martial Arts Arena, Lin Yun had a puzzled look on his face. Li Ji explained from the side, "Young Master Lin, the Yanhuang Martial Arts Arena is actually one of the favorite hangouts for the wealthy scions of the Capital City."

"You can bet on every match here. To be blunt, this place is more like a giant casino, and the Royal Family is the sole house."

According to Li Ji, the daily wagers here amounted to hundreds of thousands of Primordial Stones. This was because many people challenged the Yanhuang List, and the fights were exceptionally fierce.

For the bored children of rich families, a place like this was the ultimate form of leisure and entertainment.

After hearing Li Ji’s explanation, Lin Yun understood. ’The profits the Royal Family makes from this Yanhuang Battle Arena must be immense. After all, they’re the only house, with no competitors. Plus, the Royal Family has the authority to dispatch challengers.’

’That means victory and defeat are largely decided by the Royal Family.’

Unsurprisingly, Lin Yun went to the area reserved for challengers, while Chen Xin and the other two could only stay in the spectator stands to watch the matches.

"Lin Yun, you can’t be reckless. If you’re outmatched, you have to forfeit quickly," Chen Xin earnestly instructed him before he left.

The challengers’ exclusive area was just a small hut next to the arena stage. Including Lin Yun, there were only four people inside. In other words, there were only four people left challenging the Yanhuang List today.

Probing the cultivation of the other three, Lin Yun was shocked to discover that the weakest among them was at the Seventh Layer of Qi Sea Realm.

’Looks like anyone who challenges the Yanhuang List is at least in the Late Stage of the Qi Sea Realm,’ Lin Yun thought. ’Someone like me, challenging the list at the First Layer of Qi Sea Realm, is probably the first in the history of the Yanhuang List.’