Chapter 498: Chapter 47: Potential of the Earth List Top Ten (Part 2)

He tried to continue moving inward, but relying on the depths of the lake’s center, a force constantly surged outward, preventing him from approaching.

"If Junior Brother Lin is feeling well, why not spar with me a few moves."

As Li Yuan spoke, Qu Feng and others nearby wore expressions of surprise; they hadn’t expected Senior Brother Li would propose to spar with Junior Brother Lin.

Junior Brother Lin hasn’t entered the Grade, whereas Senior Brother Li is probably not far from the Eighth Grade.

Such a sparring match, isn’t it a little unfair to Junior Brother Lin?

Lin Chen pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement: "If Senior Brother Li wants to guide me, I would be most grateful."

Lin Chen was initially surprised that Senior Brother Li wanted to spar with him, but soon he understood that Senior Brother Li wasn’t trying to intimidate him, and instead wanted to gauge his true strength.

Upon hearing Lin Chen agree, Qu Feng and others immediately spread apart, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Senior Brother Li’s strength needs no mention, first in the Martial Arts Academy.

What they anticipated wasn’t Lin Chen defeating Senior Brother Li, but was rather hoping that Lin Chen could take a few moves from Senior Brother Li?

One is the strongest of the newcomers, the other is first in the academy; this is a match between the old and new number ones.

"Junior Brother Lin, please go ahead."

Li Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, not intending to use a Spirit Soldier, as using one at his realm would be bullying Junior Brother Lin.

"Alright, Senior Brother Li, please guide me."

Lin Chen nodded, circulating his Qi Blood throughout his body, not daring to be the least bit careless.

He hadn’t actually traded blows with Grade-Entering Martial Artists, let alone someone like Senior Brother Li, who was close to the Eighth Grade.

A breath later!

With Qi Blood circulating to its peak state, Lin Chen let out a light shout and took the initiative to attack first.

Wind and Cloud Palm, wrapped in scorching Qi Force, struck straight at Li Yuan’s face, with faint golden light flickering where the palm wind passed.

This was a sparring match, and Lin Chen chose to face it directly.

Seeing Lin Chen make his move, Li Yuan understood Lin Chen’s intentions and exclaimed inwardly in admiration, he truly was Lin Chen, confident enough to engage him head-on.

In previous academy competitions, other Junior Brothers facing him never engaged him head-on because they clearly understood the gap in their abilities compared to his.

These Junior Brothers mostly relied on their agility to maneuver against him.

"Junior Brother Lin, be careful now."

When Lin Chen’s twin palms reached him, Li Yuan softly spoke a word, causing icy blue cold mist to rise from his palms, and within three zhang, the air started to frost.

Feeling the sudden drop in temperature around him, Lin Chen’s pupils contracted sharply, remembering the battle with that individual from the Han Kingdom, though that person’s cold mist had no effect on him.

But this time...

Bang!

Their palms collided, and Lin Chen’s body flew backward, flipping over twice in mid-air before stabilizing himself, while Li Yuan remained unmoving.

"As expected of Senior Brother Li."

There was admiration in Lin Chen’s eyes; at the moment their palms met, he felt an extremely cold energy permeate through his palm into his body. If he hadn’t swiftly changed his move to retreat, his palm’s tendons and veins might have been harmed by the cold energy.

"Junior Brother Lin, don’t hold back, let Senior Brother see your full strength."

Li Yuan smiled, he could tell that Lin Chen hadn’t gone all out with this move; it was more an attempt to gauge his strength.

"Alright."

Lin Chen nodded, his palms moving in arcs, with dots of golden light appearing with each move.

"Seventh Palm!"

With a light shout, Lin Chen struck out with both palms again!

When the twin palms broke through the air, sounds of rushing wind echoed, even Qu Feng and others who had backed off more than a dozen zhang could feel the whistling palm wind.

"Junior Brother Lin’s growth rate is truly frightening."

Qu Feng’s mouth slightly opened, he had a feeling that if this was directed at him, he wouldn’t be able to take it.

Recalling sparring with Junior Brother Lin in Linhu Village, at that time Junior Brother Lin couldn’t even handle a few moves from him, but now has already far surpassed him.

Qu Feng now could understand the envy and shock that the other Junior Brothers at the Martial Arts Hall had shown him back then.

Li Yuan’s expression turned serious; the palm wind preceded the hand’s arrival.

Junior Brother Lin’s palm made him lose that initial ease; Martial Path Will circulated as twin palms waved, Ninth Grade Will poured out, with twin hands meeting, the ice-blue Azure Wave Force Dao transformed into shadowy water ripples.

Bang!

As their palms met instantly, Lin Chen flew back again, but spun several times in the air before landing after unloading the remaining Qi Force.

But different from before, Li Yuan had also taken a step back this time.

Though it was just one step, it caused an uproar at the scene.

Qu Feng and others were in disbelief, Lin Chen had actually forced Senior Brother Li to step back?

It should be known that even those Ninth-Grade Senior Brothers at the Martial Arts Garden never managed it.

"Junior Brother Lin, there are external rumors saying you’re invincible below the Grade, but in my opinion, most Ninth-Grade Martial Artists are not your match."

The shock in Li Yuan’s eyes hadn’t faded, when their palms touched, he felt a surge of scorching energy, and this energy erupted instantly upon contact...

If it weren’t for his strength being far above Junior Brother Lin’s, if it had been any other Ninth-Grade Martial Artists in his place, they might have hastily been injured by this energy.

"Junior Brother Lin, your true strength is enough to reach the top ten of the Earth List."

Li Yuan’s eyes sparkled; among the thirty names of the Earth List, the latter fifteen hadn’t entered the Grade. With Junior Brother Lin’s strength, he could have entered the Earth List long ago.

The Martial Arts Garden placed Junior Brother Lin at the top of the Human List because he is a year younger than those on the Earth List, which is why the academy published the first Hidden Dragon List, with age as the primary criterion.

This ranking method prevents some geniuses from being overlooked.

Someone like Junior Brother Lin, whose strength is enough to enter the top fifteen of the Earth List, could also challenge talents on the Earth List to enter it.

"Considering this, it’s likely that the top three of the Earth List..."

From Junior Brother Lin being ranked first on the Human List, Li Yuan suddenly guessed, it’s highly possible that the top three on the Earth List might be stronger than the tail-end of the Celestial List, just due to age, the Martial Arts Garden placed them at the top of the Earth List.

At least, the first of the Earth List definitely has the strength surpassing the end of the Celestial List.

Therefore, if I want to advance to the Celestial List, I must do so before the first of the Earth List begins challenging it. Once they succeed, I might not have the chance anymore.

"Senior Brother Li guessed right."

Though Li Yuan’s words stopped abruptly, Lin Chen understood what Li Yuan’s unspoken words were.

In Linhu Village, Master Li also analyzed for him, saying that the Martial Arts Garden’s ranking for the Hidden Dragon List this time, all three number ones have strength far beyond others in the same list.

The first of the Celestial List needs no mention; the first of the Earth List, in terms of actual strength, could likely enter the top seven of the Celestial List, and as for myself, being the first on the Human List, the true strength is capable of entering the top twenty of the Earth List.

Now, after the Sixth Transformation, I’m even capable of entering the top fifteen!

Countries have conducted detailed analysis on the talents on the Hidden Dragon List, which is also why Dean Hua wants me to absorb Canglan energy to break through the Seventh Transformation.

Only at the Seventh Transformation, can one have a stable strength to enter the top ten of the Earth List.

Qu Feng and others nearby, however, were listening in a state of confusion.

Senior Brother Li and Junior Brother Lin’s conversation sounded so profound, is this the supposed communication among geniuses?

"Senior Brother Li, I have a question."

"Please, Junior Brother."

"At Canglan Lake, I attempted to absorb Canglan energy, but found I couldn’t absorb much; what could be the reason?"

"Couldn’t absorb much?"

Before Li Yuan could respond, the other disciples beside him collectively rolled their eyes; why hadn’t they encountered a situation where they couldn’t absorb much.

More often, it was that the Canglan energy was so abundant that they couldn’t absorb and refine it completely due to their bodies not being able to withstand the cold of the Canglan energy, forcing them to climb ashore.

"Junior Brother Lin feels there’s not enough Canglan energy?"

Li Yuan smiled slightly; if it were before he had entered the Grade, he wouldn’t have understood the meaning behind Junior Brother Lin’s words.

"Canglan Lake rises with the tide every other day, at which time the lake’s center will gush out a lot of Canglan energy. Today isn’t a day of rising tide; wait till tomorrow and Junior Brother Lin will be able to feel the abundance of Canglan energy."