The battle began. Lin Yun’s first opponent was a Martial Artist at the Ninth Layer of Qi Sea Realm. He was twenty-nine years old; in another year, he would no longer be a candidate for the Yanhuang List because he would be over the age limit.

Wielding twin hammers, his two-meter-tall frame was exceptionally burly, projecting an incredibly intimidating presence.

"I hear you’re a Body Refining Martial Artist?" the man asked right away. He was also a Body Refining Martial Artist and was very interested in Lin Yun being one as well. Nowadays, among the Martial Artists of Yanhuang Country, you might not even find one Body Refining Martial Artist in ten thousand.

Lin Yun nodded. He could see that the man’s physique was also formidable. However, there was one key difference between them.

Lin Yun’s physical toughness was bone-deep. He looked fair-skinned, handsome, and even a little lean, but anyone who underestimated his body would be in for a rude awakening. His seemingly slender frame concealed an unimaginable amount of power.

In contrast, his opponent was all bulging muscle. You could tell he was a Body Refining Martial Artist just from his appearance. ’But in my eyes, his Body Refining Technique is the worst kind,’ Lin Yun thought. ’All things in the world, upon reaching their limit, eventually go through a process of Returning to the True Self. His way is just the lowest realm of Body Refining.’

"Since we’re both Body Refining Martial Artists, let’s settle this with our physical strength. You dare?" the man said to Lin Yun, obviously very confident in his own body.

’Perfect,’ Lin Yun rejoiced internally. ’If we’re just competing with pure Physical Strength, his higher cultivation level will be no advantage. I’m confident I can cripple him in one strike.’

"Alright." Lin Yun nodded in agreement. Possessing the Flawless Flesh Body, he felt that while he couldn’t make any grand claims, here in Yanhuang Country, he feared no one when it came to his physique.

Having made their agreement, the man stored his twin hammers directly into his Space Ring. He then began to gather his strength, using no Elemental Power, no Martial Skills—only the most primitive and savage Physical Strength for their confrontation.

"What an idiot," the Fifth Prince said coldly, watching the two on stage and referring to Lin Yun’s opponent.

As one of the top ten geniuses on the Yanhuang List, the Fifth Prince could naturally see the truth. ’There’s a huge difference in their builds, but can Physical Strength really be judged by size?’

’It’s like with an old man. You might look at him and think he’s on death’s door, but he could be a supreme expert who has simply achieved Returning to the True Self. Your cultivation is just too low to see through it.’

’In the world of Martial Artists, you can never judge anything by appearance.’

"It’ll be over in one move." The moment the Fifth Prince spoke, Kang Lai chimed in. It was a foregone conclusion that Lin Yun would be the winner.

With a thunderous shout, the veins on the man’s arm bulged. He threw a punch straight at Lin Yun, his advance looking utterly ferocious.

Lin Yun, in contrast, hadn’t moved an inch. He only threw a swift punch of his own when the man’s fist was right before him.

The two fists collided. Lin Yun’s fist looked small in comparison, but it radiated a terrifying power. Like that of a Demon Beast, a savage Physical Strength instantly shattered his opponent’s hand bones. The force didn’t stop there, continuing up and breaking the man’s entire arm.

Just as the Fifth Prince and Kang Lai had predicted, the victor was decided in an instant. Lin Yun’s physical body was far stronger than his opponent’s; they were on completely different levels.

Excruciating pain shot up his arm, causing the man to break out in a cold sweat. His eyes, however, were filled with profound shock as he stared at Lin Yun.

"You’ve lost," Lin Yun stated calmly. After throwing the punch, he still hadn’t moved so much as a single step.

Lin Yun won the first fight easily, settling it with a single punch. After a mere ten breaths, the second challenger came on stage. This man carried a long spear, and Lin Yun noticed from his gait that he walked like someone from the army.

"Draw your weapon. I will not hold back." With a soldier’s demeanor, he wasted no time at all, immediately assuming an offensive stance.

Lin Yun didn’t get arrogant. With his Bone Spear in hand, he faced the Ninth Layer Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist. He didn’t reveal his Second Layer of Qi Sea Realm cultivation, fighting only at the level of the First Layer of Qi Sea Realm. ’Of course, I have to save my trump cards for later.’

With a sharp cry, the man attacked. Lin Yun met him with a spear thrust of his own. Both of them used spears. Lin Yun’s Spear Technique was of the Supreme Yang, while his opponent’s was lethal with every move, stripped of all useless flourishes and designed only to kill the enemy as quickly as possible.

"Worthy of being called the army’s number one genius," the Fifth Prince commented with admiration as he watched the two fight. The man facing Lin Yun was none other than the top genius in the Yanhuang Country military.

With no family background or powerful backer, he had clawed his way up from the lowest ranks of the military. At twenty-seven, he reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Sea Realm and became a Yanhuang List candidate. Furthermore, his Combat Power was ranked among the top twenty of Yanhuang Country’s younger generation.

"Let’s see how this brat manages to beat him," the Fifth Prince sneered.

The fight on stage was spectacular. After exchanging several blows, Lin Yun was impressed by the man’s strength. ’He’s a cut above even the Third Leader.’

The man’s entire Spear Technique had been refined to its essential, potent form. Every move was precise and efficient, without a single wasted motion, much like a soldier’s mentality—kill the opponent in the shortest time possible.

"I’m only ranked eighth among the challengers. If this is all the strength you have, I advise you to surrender. Otherwise, you won’t make it through, and you might even die here," the man said, thrusting his spear at Lin Yun.

’He has this much strength and he’s only ranked eighth?’ Lin Yun thought. ’The rumors were true. These ten challengers really are the ones closest to the top ten geniuses on the Yanhuang List.’

’It’s fair to say that as long as no Primordial Ocean Realm experts or the top ten geniuses themselves make a move, these people have no match in all of Yanhuang Country.’

After dozens of exchanges, neither Lin Yun nor his opponent had gained the upper hand. They were perfectly matched.

’I’ve fought long enough to figure out his Spear Technique patterns,’ Lin Yun thought. ’It’s about time to end this. I still have seven more fights. The longer this drags on, the worse it is for me.’

"Your Spear Technique is impressive. Let’s decide this with the next move," Lin Yun said calmly, looking at the man.

"Alright." He agreed without hesitation. Both men prepared to unleash an all-out attack.

The Bone Spear in Lin Yun’s hand ignited with roiling flames, and a scorching aura radiated outward from him.

Executing Inch Step, Lin Yun shot toward the man like a bolt of lightning. Unwilling to be outdone, his opponent also unleashed his own Body Technique Martial Skill. Both of them thrust their spears forward simultaneously.

Tip to tip, the spears met. For a moment, they were evenly matched. But after just three short breaths, the flames on Lin Yun’s Bone Spear intensified, transforming it into a true spear of fire. His Red Flame Spear Technique erupted, instantly overwhelming his opponent.

At the last second, Lin Yun held back his power. He didn’t kill the man, merely knocking the long spear from his hands.

Losing one’s weapon meant defeat. The man took it gracefully. Picking up his long spear from the ground, he said to Lin Yun, "If you had used your full strength from the start, I probably wouldn’t have lasted ten moves. Let me give you a warning: the three strongest challengers are here to kill you. They took a reward from the Fifth Prince. Watch yourself."

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