Jin Ze was ecstatic. He was the first to reach the summit, which meant he should have easily acquired the Crown and become the rookie king. Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but laugh heartily, but his laughter stopped abruptly as if someone had seized him by the throat. His eyes bulged as he stared intently ahead.

He discovered that, besides himself, there was another person on the mountaintop. Furthermore, this person was even closer to the Crown, meaning they had reached the summit before he did.

How is this possible? I’m not the first one to reach the top? Someone was faster than me! Who is it? Who could it possibly be?

He stared fixedly at the figure, but in the next moment, he was dumbstruck, his expression like he had seen a ghost.

"It’s you, Lin Xuan!"

"How could it possibly be you?"

I thought of countless people, but I never imagined it would be Lin Xuan. Isn’t that guy just an ant? He should have been killed by a Demon Beast as soon as he entered the mountain. How could he possibly reach the summit, let alone be faster than me?

At this moment, he was completely stunned.

Ahead, Lin Xuan turned his head to look. He was slightly surprised to see it was Jin Ze.

Hmm, this guy’s speed isn’t bad. But so what? He’s still a step behind me.

He said calmly, "You’re too late. This Crown belongs to me."

"How did you reach the summit? How could you possibly be here?" Jin Ze roared furiously.

Lin Xuan replied, "I walked here, naturally. I told you before, my strength is beyond your imagination. No one can stop me.

"Not even a Three-Star Demon Beast can stop me.

"You stand even less of a chance.

"So, I advise you, it’s best not to make an enemy of me. Otherwise, your end will be miserable."

What?

Upon hearing this, Jin Ze was stunned. The people at the foot of the mountain were equally shocked. There were Arrays on the mountaintop, so the conversations and events happening there could be clearly seen by those below. Hearing Lin Xuan’s words, they were dumbfounded.

What did this kid say? A Three-Star Demon Beast couldn’t stop him? Could it be that the one fighting the Three-Star Demon Beast earlier was Lin Xuan? Seriously?

"Wow, this kid can really brag, can’t he?" Gu Xinghe burst out laughing.

Elder Lei rolled his eyes. "You fought a Three-Star Demon Beast? Are you even worthy? You probably couldn’t even withstand a single glance from one."

This kid really knows how to brag; his boasting knows no bounds.

In Elder Lei’s opinion, Lin Xuan must have simply been lucky to be the first to reach the summit. If he had encountered a Three-Star Demon Beast, he would have been defeated long ago. "So he’s just bragging," the others realized with a start. They also didn’t believe Lin Xuan could contend with a Three-Star Demon Beast. After all, for Lin Xuan to fend off a Two-Star Demon Beast was already heaven-defying; contending with a Three-Star Demon Beast was simply impossible.

On the mountaintop, Jin Ze paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You contended with a Three-Star Demon Beast? Don’t be ridiculous. Who do you think you are, to be able to fight a Three-Star Demon Beast?"

At that moment, three more rookie prodigies arrived at the summit. They weren’t surprised to see Jin Ze, but they were taken aback when they saw Lin Xuan. It felt as if they were dreaming.

How could Lin Xuan be here?

Hearing what Lin Xuan had said made them even more dumbfounded.

The one who fought the Three-Star Demon Beast was Lin Xuan? Is that for real?

"That’s impossible," one of the newcomers shook his head and said. "Lin Xuan can’t possess that kind of strength."

"Exactly! Lin Xuan, you sure can talk big. Even though you’re a Dragon Warrior, you’re only a Five-Star Grandmaster.

"How could you possibly cross so many cultivation realms to fight a Three-Star Demon Beast?

"Among all the newcomers, the only one who can contend with a Three-Star Demon Beast is Jin Ze."

Another newcomer added, "That’s right. Jin Ze has a Quasi Saint Body. He’s the only one who could take on a Three-Star Demon Beast.

"There’s no way you could do it.

"Just stop bragging.

"You only made it here through sheer luck."

"How ridiculous!" Lin Xuan sneered. "Who told you Jin Ze was the one with the Quasi Saint Body? I’m the one with the Quasi Saint Body."

What?

Hearing this, the new arrivals were dumbfounded, as were the spectators at the foot of the mountain.

Lin Xuan has a Quasi Saint Body? Seriously?

"What utter nonsense!" Elder Lei fumed. "A thousand years ago, a Dragon Warrior could evolve into a Quasi Saint Body.

"But now, the path of the Dragon Warrior is broken.

"Even if someone is lucky enough to become a Dragon Warrior, they are suppressed by the heavens and the earth, with no future.

"Under such circumstances, how could he possibly evolve into a Quasi Saint Body?"

On the mountaintop, the three newcomers rolled their eyes upon hearing this. One of them, a girl named Zisu, offered some sincere advice. "Lin Xuan, stop bragging. I urge you to give up now.

"It’s impossible for you to seize the Crown. You’ll never be a match for Jin Ze."

But Lin Xuan just laughed. "Give up? Why should I give up? I’ve never paid Jin Ze any mind.

"I possess the combat power of a Three-Star Grandmaster.

"In my eyes, Jin Ze is no different from an ant."

At these words, Zisu was stunned. The other newcomers were stunned. The crowd watching below was also stunned.

His combat power is equivalent to a Three-Star Grandmaster! What a joke! Wasn’t it said that his combat power was only equivalent to a Two-Star Grandmaster? Hmph, there’s no way he could fight across eight cultivation realms.

No one believed him. Even Ning Xue and Lu Jiu were skeptical.

Lu Jiu whispered, "Junior Brother Lin is indeed impressive, but he certainly loves to boast.

"He’s clearly only at the level of a Two-Star Grandmaster, yet he claims to have the combat power of a Three-Star Grandmaster.

"He’s really laying it on a bit thick."

"What did you say?" Upon hearing these words, Jin Ze’s face darkened completely.

I could let it slide when this kid boasted about being a Quasi Saint Body with the strength of a Three-Star Grandmaster. But for this guy to look down on me, to call me an ant... that, I cannot tolerate. I am a Two-Star Invincible. How could I possibly be an ant? I’ve long found this Lin Xuan an eyesore. Now is the perfect time to deal with the brat.

"I will crush you underfoot, make you kneel before me, and lick my shoes."

With that, Jin Ze made his move. He shot out a palm strike, imbued with terrifying Thunderous Power, that flew viciously toward Lin Xuan.

Sensing this power, the faces of the other three newcomers on the summit changed drastically, and their bodies trembled involuntarily. They were also Two-Star Grandmasters, but facing this palm strike, they felt as if they were up against a formidable foe. After all, there was a vast gap between a Two-Star Grandmaster and a Two-Star Invincible. They were no match for Jin Ze at all.

"I don’t think Lin Xuan can withstand it," one of the prodigies said.

"Definitely not," another stated. "We couldn’t withstand it, so how could he?

"Just watch. He’s in for it now."

Seeing this, Zisu kindly cried out a warning, "Lin Xuan, quick, dodge! Surrender now!"

However, Lin Xuan stood his ground, not dodging in the slightest, allowing the palm strike to hit him.

BOOM!

The strike landed squarely on Lin Xuan. The Thunderous Power erupted, completely engulfing his figure.

"Oh no!" Zisu’s face paled.

The other two newcomers shook their heads and sighed. "So foolish!

"He got hit. He’s done for."

Below, the crowd gasped.

It’s over. That kid is in for a miserable fate.

Gu Xinghe laughed heartily. "He’s bound to lose!"

Elder Lei snorted coldly. "Foolish brat."

A cold sneer crept across Jin Ze’s lips. "Pathetically weak."

It seemed this battle was over. He had won.