In the eyes of these new disciples, only Jin Ze could contend with a Three-Star Demon Beast. Not only did they think so, but the other senior disciples and even the elders felt the same. When they saw the Cloud Sea churning on the mountain and heard the thunderous, unending roars, they knew someone was fighting a Three-Star Demon Beast.

"Heavens, who is it? To think a new disciple can actually contend with a Three-Star Demon Beast. That’s astonishing!"

"It must be Jin Ze. Only his Quasi-Saint Body could achieve this."

"So this is a Quasi-Saint Body? It’s truly heaven-defying."

The senior disciples were filled with envy.

Even the elders wore expressions of surprise. "Just a Quasi-Saint Body probably isn’t enough to fight a Three-Star Demon Beast," they mused. "Unless Jin Ze has another powerful trump card up his sleeve."

"Exactly," Elder Lei said with a smile. "He does indeed have a powerful trump card."

"So that’s how it is," the other elders said, a look of sudden realization on their faces.

"In that case, Jin Ze is definitely the Newcomer King. No one is stronger than him."

While they were discussing, the battle on Lin Xuan’s side grew even more intense. The two sides exchanged dozens of blows, but neither could gain the upper hand. Lin Xuan knew that relying solely on the Serpent Fist was not enough to defeat his opponent; he would have to use other methods.

Cyan Dragon Hunting Hand.

At this thought, Lin Xuan’s fist morphed into a palm that shot forward in a fierce grab. In an instant, it latched onto the Demon Ape’s arm. A sickening crack echoed as the arm split open, revealing the white bone beneath. The Demon Ape shrieked in agony and stumbled back, its eyes turning an even deeper shade of blood-red.

Damn it! That human actually injured me! Unforgivable!

With a furious roar, the Demon Patterns across its body flared. An overwhelming Demonic Qi erupted from it, and its frame swelled, growing even larger until it resembled a Demon God. It was preparing to unleash its full power.

Seeing this, Lin Xuan gave a cold snort. He took a single step forward and unleashed his Ten Thousand Dragon Body. Dragon Scales materialized across his skin. Although he didn’t transform into a full dragon, he looked as if he had donned a suit of dragon-shaped Battle Armor as a terrifying draconic pressure emanated from him.

As it felt this power, the Demon Ape froze. Its pupils constricted, and a trace of fear appeared in its eyes. What is going on? I actually sense the aura of a Divine Beast on this human. This is unbelievable!

It no longer dared to fight. Instead, it turned and fled, disappearing deep into the mountain.

Lin Xuan paused, watching the creature’s hasty retreat. It ran? I’ll spare you this time, then.

The Dragon Scales on his body faded away. He stomped his foot and continued his ascent. This time, no more Demon Beasts tried to stop him. He moved like a bolt of lightning, weaving his way up the mountain.

Finally, he broke through the Cloud Sea and reached the summit.

"Someone has reached the top!"

At the foot of the mountain, the crowd cried out in shock as they witnessed the scene.

"Heavens! Someone reached the summit this quickly? That’s incredible!"

"Who was the first one to make it?"

"Is there any need to ask? It has to be Jin Ze!"

Gu Xinghe laughed heartily. "It seems not even a Three-Star Demon Beast could stop Jin Ze!"

The crowd was in an uproar.

「On the other side.」

Elder Lei also threw his head back and laughed. This new disciple of his truly hadn’t let him down. It seemed no one could contend with Jin Ze. Since he was the first to the summit, he should have no trouble obtaining the Crown. The title of Newcomer King was his for the taking.

But just then, someone cried out, "Hey, that’s not right! That doesn’t look like Jin Ze!"

Elder Lei scoffed dismissively, "How could it not be Jin Ze? Elder Wang, are your eyes playing tricks on you?"

"It’s really not Jin Ze!" another elder exclaimed.

Elder Lei snorted again. "Elder Li, don’t tell me you’re joining in on their nonsense. I get it. You’re all just jealous I recruited such a fine disciple."

Elder Wang and Elder Li spoke quickly, "Old Monster Lei, you have to see for yourself! The first one to the summit really isn’t Jin Ze!"

Elder Lei furrowed his brow. What? He didn’t believe them. He personally looked up and focused on the figure at the peak. In the next moment, his expression changed dramatically. "How is this possible? It’s really not Jin Ze!" he exclaimed.

"Who is that?"

The surrounding disciples froze when they heard this. The entire area fell into a terrifying silence. Everyone stared with wide eyes at the mountaintop.

If it wasn’t Jin Ze, then who could it be? Could someone actually be faster than him? It was simply unbelievable.

Gu Xinghe’s face fell. "That’s impossible," he muttered. "Who could possibly surpass Jin Ze?"

"It looks like... Lin Xuan," Elder Wang gasped.

Elder Li added, "That’s right, it’s definitely him."

The announcement sent shockwaves through the entire audience. The newcomers, the senior disciples, the elders, Gu Xinghe, and Elder Lei were all stunned.

The first person to reach the summit was actually Lin Xuan.

How was that possible? It was too incredible to believe.

Even the vice dean wore a look of utter surprise. Clearly, this outcome had far exceeded his expectations.

"Hahaha!" Ning Xue laughed with excitement. "It’s Lin Xuan! Lin Xuan was the first one to the top! I knew he would win!"

"Hmph! I told you all that Lin Xuan’s strength is equivalent to a Two-Star Grandmaster, but you wouldn’t believe me. Do you believe me now?"

Lu Jiu also exclaimed excitedly, "Junior Brother Lin is amazing! It looks like Junior Brother Lin is the Newcomer King!"

The crowd was profoundly shaken. Could Lin Xuan really fight across seven cultivation realms? Was his combat power truly on par with a Two-Star Grandmaster? This was completely beyond anything they had imagined. Before, they had completely written him off, with some even thinking he had probably found a corner to hide in.

But now, they realized they were wrong. Terribly wrong. Lin Xuan hadn’t been hiding at all. He had been climbing the entire time and was the first to reach the summit. They all felt the sting of a harsh slap in the face.

The senior disciples were all dumbstruck. Gu Xinghe’s expression was grim, and Elder Lei’s face was as black as thunder.

Even the vice dean was sighing in amazement. "So this is the power of a Dragon Warrior? Truly incredible," he murmured. "But what a pity... a Dragon Warrior has no future."

He let out a deep sigh. If Dragon Warriors had a future, the academy would surely pour all its resources into cultivating Lin Xuan.

Just as he was lost in thought, another figure burst through the Cloud Sea and landed on the summit.

"Someone else made it to the top!" the crowd gasped.

"Who is it?"

"Is it Jin Ze?"

"This time, it’s really Jin Ze!"

Seeing this, Elder Lei began to laugh heartily. "Excellent! My disciple has reached the top as well!" he declared coldly. "So what if that Lin Xuan reached the summit first? So what if he can fight across seven realms? My disciple Jin Ze is stronger! Even if that brat made it to the top, he can’t defeat Jin Ze. In the end, the Newcomer King will still be Jin Ze!"

"That’s right," Gu Xinghe chimed in. "Jin Ze was delayed because he was fighting a Three-Star Demon Beast. That’s the only reason he let that Lin Xuan opportunistically take first place. If he hadn’t encountered that Demon Beast, Jin Ze would have definitely been the first to the summit."

"But what does it matter if that kid got there first?" he continued. "The title of Newcomer King goes to whoever wears the Crown first. There is no way that brat can snatch the Crown from Jin Ze. He is doomed to fail."

The others all nodded in agreement. It was true. No matter how strong or heaven-defying Lin Xuan was, he was no match for Jin Ze. After all, Jin Ze possessed a Quasi-Saint Body!

"Jin Ze can even fight a Three-Star Demon Beast. Defeating Lin Xuan will be a piece of cake for him."

"That Lin Xuan just got lucky. It was a fluke that he reached the top first."

"But his lucky streak ends the moment he faces Jin Ze."

「On the other side.」

Jin Ze was ecstatic. As far as he was concerned, he was the first to reach the summit. No one could have surpassed him. As he burst through the Cloud Sea and descended onto the mountaintop, he laughed triumphantly.

"I am the first to reach the top! The Newcomer King is mine!"