Bullying the Weak?

As Lin Fan had expected, after only a few breaths, Flame City's One-Seal Talisman Master was defeated by his opponent.

Being defeated would have been one thing, but the man in white arrogantly began to mock him.

"Flame City Talisman Association really is mediocre. It seems the Symbol Master Tower will belong to Heavenly Flame City this year."

"Arrogant!"

"Way too cocky!"

His words naturally provoked the displeasure of Flame City's talisman masters, and quite a few of them glared at him angrily.

The man in white simply ignored them. With a sneer, he said, "Not convinced? Then come up here if you're not convinced."

As soon as he said this, the Flame City talisman masters immediately fell silent.

There was nothing they could do. The other party's strength was right there for all to see.

He was a Two-Seal Symbol Master. If they went up, they would only be asking for trouble.

"Flame City is nothing but a bunch of cowards. Leaving the Symbol Master Tower here is truly a waste!"

"I say we might as well skip the Tower Duel. It'll save you from humiliating yourselves later..."

"..."

Seeing that the Flame City talisman masters remained silent, the Heavenly Flame City talisman masters began shouting provocations one after another.

"You still dare act so arrogantly right in front of me? You really don't take me seriously."

Lin Fan shook his head, then leaped into the arena.

When the surrounding crowd saw Lin Fan step forward, they were all stunned.

"It's Flame City's number one prodigy, Lin Fan!"

"Big Brother Lin Fan, beat them until they cry!"

"Go! Little Brother Lin Fan, you have to vent our anger for us!"

The Flame City talisman masters quickly recognized Lin Fan and began shouting excitedly.

"Oh? I didn't expect Flame City to have someone so ignorant of his own limits!"

The man in white was briefly stunned before breaking into a wide grin. "Looks like you're some kind of genius too. Perfect—I haven't had enough fun yet. Today, in front of everyone, I'll stomp that genius halo of yours into the dirt!"

Lin Fan said calmly, "A mere Two-Seal Symbol Master dares to be this arrogant? Today, I'll teach you a lesson in your master's stead!"

"Hmph!"

At those words, the man in white snorted coldly. "I am Cao Zhu of the Heavenly Flame City Talisman Association. You'd better remember that name!"

It had to be said that he was an extremely sinister and cunning man.

Before he had even finished speaking, several cold flashes shot from his sleeves and flew toward Lin Fan like lightning.

Buzz!

Lin Fan's eyes flickered as a surge of Divine Sense emerged, enveloping the incoming objects and erasing the Spiritual Power attached to them.

Whoosh!

With a flash of cold light, three sharp short swords stopped before Lin Fan.

The three short swords were snow-white all over and covered in sharp serrations. They had been forged from rare Ice Profound Iron, which came from lands of extreme cold and naturally carried astonishing chill that could even injure a person's Spiritual Power.

"Lin Dong, these three short swords are for you!"

After toying with them for a moment, Lin Fan casually tossed them to Lin Dong nearby.

"Give me back my Ice Profound Swords!"

Cao Zhu's figure flashed as he charged toward Lin Dong.

He could sense that the other party was merely a One-Seal Talisman Master.

"What's the rush? We're not finished yet!"

With a hook of Lin Fan's finger, a strand of Divine Sense surged forth and transformed into a rope, blocking Cao Zhu's path.

Tripped by the invisible rope, Cao Zhu pitched forward.

Fortunately, he instantly unleashed all his Spiritual Power, forcibly stopping his falling body.

"Fall!"

Lin Fan gave a low shout, and all of his Divine Sense poured out, pressing down on Cao Zhu's body.

Thud!

In an instant, Cao Zhu fell flat on his face.

"Get up!"

Cao Zhu struggled to rise, only to discover that he was completely suppressed. No matter what he did, he could only lie on the ground, unable to move.

"You talisman masters from Heavenly Flame City, remember this: this is Flame City, not Heavenly Flame City. Keep yourselves in line and stay low-key."

After saying that, Lin Fan beckoned to Lin Dong, then turned and left.

After they left, freed from the suppression of Divine Sense, Cao Zhu finally managed to get to his feet.

He stared viciously at their departing figures and said, "Just you wait. If I don't kill you two on the day of the Tower Duel, then my surname isn't Cao!"

Whenever he thought of his treasures, Cao Zhu's heart bled.

To forge those three Ice Profound Swords, he had spent a full thirty thousand Yang Essence Stones.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the Tower Duel finally arrived.

The Talisman Association was several times more crowded today than it had been over the past few days.

Not long after Lin Fan entered the courtyard, a striking figure in a purple dress appeared before him.

"Young Master Lin Fan, you've finally arrived."

Upon seeing Lin Fan, a faint smile unexpectedly appeared on Zi Yue's beautiful, eternally icy face.

This scene immediately drew the attention of those around them.

After all, even those who saw Zi Yue regularly were witnessing her smile for the first time.

Unfortunately, that smile was not meant for them, but for Lin Fan.

"So it's Miss Zi Yue."

Lin Fan nodded and asked, "Why haven't you gone in yet?"

"Of course I was waiting here for you!"

Zi Yue blinked and said, "Today, you're the main character!"

"You flatter me, Miss Zi Yue."

And so, amid the envious, jealous, and resentful gazes of the surrounding crowd, Lin Fan chatted and laughed with Zi Yue as they headed deeper into the Talisman Association.

Before long, the Symbol Master Tower, radiating terrifying Spiritual Fluctuations, came into view.

The open space beneath the Symbol Master Tower, which had originally been empty, was now packed with a dense crowd.

This open space was clearly divided into two groups, evidently Symbol Masters from two different cities.

"Lin Fan is here."

No one knew who shouted it, but everyone immediately turned to look at Lin Fan.

Among those gazes, Lin Fan sensed a few that carried traces of hostility.

Naturally, those hostile looks came from Cao Zhu and the other Symbol Masters from Heavenly Flame City.

Ignoring them, Lin Fan walked straight to the front of the Flame City Symbol Masters.

Suddenly, another commotion broke out among the crowd as several figures approached from the rear.

Among them, Lin Fan only recognized Master Yan.

"Do you see that gray-haired old man?"

At that moment, Zi Yue's cool voice rang out by Lin Fan's ear. "He is Han Yun, the leader of the Heavenly Flame City Talisman Association. He is also a Four Seal Talisman Master!"

Lin Fan nodded and looked toward the man standing behind Han Yun.

The man had an ordinary appearance and thick eyebrows, yet the Symbol Masters from Heavenly Flame City around him treated him with considerable respect.

"This person is Zhou Tong, the strongest young Symbol Master in Heavenly Flame City and our greatest opponent this time."

Zi Yue's expression was somewhat grave as she lowered her voice. "It is said that he had already become a Two-Seal Symbol Master two years ago."

However, Lin Fan, who had read the original novel, knew that Zhou Tong was actually already a Three-Seal Talisman Master.

If Lin Dong had not stepped in, and if he had not happened to possess the Ancient Vortex Talisman capable of devouring Spiritual Power to strengthen itself, the Symbol Master Tower would likely have been won by Heavenly Flame City.