The ten-round challenge offered almost no chance to rest. The final open challenger soon took the stage.

"You’re strong, beating those last two. Let’s go." Winning two consecutive matches was enough to prove Lin Yun’s strength. This challenger came onstage looking grave, not daring to let his guard down for a second.

The third battle began immediately. The betting odds on Lin Yun had dropped significantly for this match, now at two-to-one. Clearly, even the Royal Family was starting to acknowledge his strength.

The third challenger wielded a longsword and also had a cultivation at the Eighth Layer of Qi Sea Realm. However, there was one major difference between him and the previous opponent. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

The previous Martial Artist at the Eighth Layer of Qi Sea Realm had focused on strength, making his speed his weakness. In contrast, the man Lin Yun faced now was a well-rounded Martial Artist, fairly balanced in all aspects.

It wouldn’t be as easy for Lin Yun to exploit this kind of Martial Artist’s weakness. The upside, however, was that with no outstanding strengths, it wouldn’t be easy for his opponent to defeat him either.

The battle began. The man’s longsword shot toward Lin Yun like a bolt of lightning. From his offensive, Lin Yun could tell that his Sword Dao was centered on speed.

Each thrust came from a tricky angle and was incredibly fast. The slightest carelessness could result in injury.

Lin Yun executed Inch Step, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake. Unable to keep up with his speed, the man simply stopped attacking, inwardly conceding that Lin Yun’s speed was superior.

He stood his ground, watching Lin Yun’s every move, ready to strike with his sword at a moment’s notice.

’He’s very experienced. Looks like I’ll have to use a frontal assault.’ With his opponent using stillness to counter his movement, Lin Yun had no better option than to use overwhelming power to break through.

Lin Yun appeared before the man and unleashed his Black Steel Tyrant Fist. Purple-gold Elemental Power enveloped his fist, and the domineering aura of the technique made him look incredibly powerful and tyrannical.

"Trying to beat me with brute force?" Seeing Lin Yun’s intent, the man didn’t back down. He met the attack head-on, unleashing his strongest technique.

The tip of his sword shot straight for Lin Yun’s fist as he frantically poured his Elemental Power into the blade.

"Is that kid planning to fight an Earth Spirit Soldier with his bare hands?" someone in the crowd exclaimed, seeing that both fighters seemed ready to settle the match in a single blow.

For an ordinary Martial Artist, fighting an Earth Spirit Soldier with one’s bare body was like an egg smashing against a rock. But for Lin Yun, an Earth Spirit Soldier was simply not a threat.

Having been tempered by Celestial Punishment back in the Qi Sea Realm, Lin Yun’s body had long since surpassed that of an ordinary Martial Artist. Confronting an Earth Spirit Soldier bare-handed was no difficult task for him.

The Black Steel Tyrant Fist slammed into the longsword. The blade didn’t last long before it was shattered to pieces by Lin Yun’s punch.

After shattering the Earth Spirit Soldier with his bare fist, Lin Yun’s punch continued onward with unstoppable momentum, aiming straight for the man’s face. If it landed, he would be severely injured, if not killed outright.

However, Lin Yun’s fist stopped just inches from the man’s face.

If his first two victories had contained an element of luck, this one was a display of pure, undeniable strength.

Stunned for a few moments, the man took a deep breath. "I have lost."

After admitting defeat, the man walked off the Martial Arts Arena without a backward glance. At the edge of the arena, the wealthy young scions all gasped in shock. ’Shattering an Earth Spirit Soldier with his bare hands... what kind of body is that?’

"That guy must be a Body Refining Martial Artist, right? To be able to shatter an Earth Spirit Soldier with his bare hands."

"He has to be a Body Refining Martial Artist. How else could his Combat Power be so high?"

"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Body Refining Martial Artist. They’re said to be the strongest within any given Realm."

With the terrifying power of his body revealed, the wealthy young men were filled with curiosity. They wanted to see just how strong the Combat Power of a rare Body Refining Martial Artist truly was, and just how far Lin Yun could go.

’So he’s a Body Refining Martial Artist. Not bad.’ The Third Leader of the Forbidden Army watched Lin Yun from a third-floor window, a hint of anticipation on his face. "Go. Proceed as usual. Send in our experts. If he can last all ten rounds, he passes."

The Third Leader had barely finished speaking when a soldier rushed up to him. "General, a message from the Fifth Prince. He hopes you will personally take the stage and execute this man on the Martial Arts Arena."

The Third Leader’s brow furrowed. ’Does the Fifth Prince have a grudge against this man?’

Although he thought highly of Lin Yun, the Fifth Prince had now given an order. As a son of the reigning His Holiness, the Third Leader naturally didn’t dare to offend the Fifth Prince.

Resigned, the Third Leader said, "Tell the Fifth Prince that if the boy can survive the first nine rounds, I will personally take the stage in the tenth and claim his head."

As he finished speaking, the Third Leader looked down at Lin Yun again, his face a mask of helplessness. ’Kid, I hope for your sake that you don’t make it to me...’

Under the heavens, all land belongs to the sovereign. The Third Leader had no choice but to obey the Fifth Prince’s command. His only hope now was that Lin Yun would be defeated within the first nine rounds. That way, he might have a chance to survive.

If it came to his turn, the Fifth Prince’s command meant he absolutely could not let Lin Yun walk off the Martial Arts Arena alive.

A servant relayed the Third Leader’s reply to the Fifth Prince. After hearing it, the Fifth Prince glared in the Third Leader’s direction, his expression turning sour. He sneered, "The tenth round, you say? Do you think I don’t know what you’re plotting? Hmph."

Clearly, the Fifth Prince had guessed the Third Leader’s intentions. It seemed the man cherished talent and wanted to leave Lin Yun one last chance to survive.

"When I want someone dead, no one under the heavens can save them," the Fifth Prince snarled.

After three consecutive wins, all the subsequent challengers were Martial Artists dispatched by the Royal Family.

Fourth match: Qi Sea Realm Eighth Layer. Lin Yun won.

Fifth match: Peak of the Eighth Layer of Qi Sea Realm. Lin Yun won.

Sixth match: Ninth Layer of Qi Sea Realm. Lin Yun won.

Seventh match: Ninth Layer of Qi Sea Realm. Lin Yun won.

With seven consecutive victories, Lin Yun had earned the stunned admiration of the wealthy young scions. It was now looking very possible that he would win all ten matches.

"Do you think he can win all ten? If he does, he’ll be the first person to pass the first stage in over a year."

"I doubt it. Plenty of challengers make it past the first seven rounds. But everyone knows the last three are the real test."

Amidst the crowd’s anticipation, Lin Yun’s eighth battle began. His opponent was a Martial Artist at the Ninth Layer of Qi Sea Realm. Judging by his aura alone, he was stronger than any of the previous challengers, having clearly reached the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Sea Realm.

"Young Master Lin, you can do it!" Having come this far, Chen Xin and her two companions had their hearts in their throats.

The battle began. The man was indeed powerful, but even now, Lin Yun was still holding back. He had yet to even draw his Bone Spear.