A Single Cry Startled the World! The Entire Arena Was Shocked!

Household Head Lin Xiaotian's booming voice echoed above the vast martial arts arena, every word striking clearly against the hearts of all the Lin Family's younger members.

Internal assessment!

Live combat duels!

Additional resource rewards!

These keywords instantly ignited the passion of the hundreds of young disciples in the arena! The air itself seemed to turn scorching beneath the suddenly surging battle intent and desire.

At the edges of the martial arts arena, those collateral-line disciples with lower cultivation—or those who knew they had little hope—were somewhat excited as well, but more of them simply wanted to watch the spectacle, ready to enjoy a clash of dragons and tigers.

Meanwhile, the outstanding figures standing at the front of the crowd, such as Lin Yan and Lin Xue, all had sharp gazes and surging auras. Like swords about to leave their sheaths, they were prepared to display crushing strength in this first round of selection and establish their leading positions.

Lin Bao stood among the disciples of the Great Elder Lin Zhenhong's faction, forcing a savage smile onto his pale face. Feeling the reverent gazes cast his way, the frustration brought by his injuries eased somewhat. Although he had failed to break through to the Fifth Layer, his Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Peak cultivation was still among the best of the younger generation! He had already made up his mind to put on a fierce display during this assessment—especially to find an opportunity to stomp that reckless Lin Chen beneath his feet before everyone and let him learn the consequences of offending him!

As for Lin Chen...

At this moment, he still had his head lowered, mingling near the back of the crowd and doing his best to play the role of someone "unremarkable." Yet his faintly trembling fingertips—naturally, they were an act—and his seemingly nervous but actually hawk-sharp gaze revealed the unrest in his heart.

The stage had been set, the audience was in place, and now it was time for him to take the stage!

"Cultivation verification begins now!" On the high platform, Third Elder Lin Zhenyue, who was presiding over the assessment, rose to his feet and announced in a clear voice, "Following past custom, those at the Body Tempering Realm First Layer will come forward for verification first, in order!"

At Third Elder's command, a stone stele that had long been prepared in the center of the martial arts arena began to emit a faint, profound aura. It was roughly the height of a person, pitch-black throughout, and smooth as a mirror. This was the "Martial Proving Stele" the Lin Family used to test the cultivation of its disciples. It was said that the stele was made from special materials and could sense the strength and attributes of a martial artist's true qi, displaying them through different lights and sounds.

Very soon, a nervous-looking youth of only twelve or thirteen stepped forward first beneath everyone's gaze. He took a deep breath, pressed his palm against the cold surface of the Martial Proving Stele, and slowly poured in his weak true qi.

Buzz...

An extremely dim white glow surfaced on the Martial Proving Stele, like the last flicker of a candle in the wind, vanishing in an instant.

"Lin Shan, Body Tempering Realm First Layer Mid-stage. Passed. Next!" the steward in charge of recording called expressionlessly.

The youth named Lin Shan let out a breath and retreated somewhat bashfully. It was only the lowest level, but at least he had passed.

Next, the young disciples stepped forward one after another.

Those at the Body Tempering Realm First Layer could mostly only cause a faint reaction from the Martial Proving Stele, its glow dim and weak.

By the Body Tempering Realm Second Layer, the light from the Martial Proving Stele was clearly brighter, showing a relatively distinct white color and lasting for one or two breaths. Occasionally, those who had reached the Second Layer Peak produced an even brighter light, sometimes accompanied by a faint hum.

Whenever someone produced a slightly brighter glow, it stirred a small commotion and discussion among the crowd.

Time passed bit by bit, and the cultivation of the disciples receiving verification grew higher and higher.

When a tall, sturdy youth pressed his hand against the Martial Proving Stele, the stele suddenly erupted with dazzling white light and gave off a distinct humming sound. The light lasted for a full three breaths before slowly fading away!

"Lin Hu, Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer Late-stage! Not bad!" Third Elder Lin Zhenyue praised personally, a flicker of approval passing through his eyes.

"Wow!" A wave of astonished and envious discussion immediately erupted from the crowd.

"It's Brother Lin Hu! He's already at the Triple Layer Late-stage!" "Amazing! He might have a chance to break into the top ten in this assessment!" "As expected of someone who follows Brother Leopard!"

Lin Hu was precisely one of the lackeys whom Lin Chen had kicked to the ground earlier! Now that he felt everyone's attention, a smug smile appeared on his face. He cast a provocative glance toward Lin Chen's direction, his eyes filled with contempt. It was as though he were saying: Do you see that, trash? This is what real strength looks like!

Lin Chen kept his head lowered, as though he had not seen Lin Hu's provocation, but his heart was ice-cold. Triple Layer Late-stage? Very soon, you would learn what despair truly meant.

Following Lin Hu's success, several more disciples who had reached the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer stepped forward in succession. Though their performances were not as eye-catching as Lin Hu's, they all left clear marks on the Martial Proving Stele and drew rounds of applause.

The atmosphere was gradually pushed toward its peak.

Everyone knew that next, it would be time for the true geniuses, as well as... that controversial "center of attention."

"Next, Lin Bao!" the steward called loudly.

Whoosh!

Almost every gaze instantly focused on Lin Bao!

Lin Bao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning blood and qi within him. He straightened his clothes, wore an arrogant smile, and strode toward the Martial Proving Stele beneath the escort of his lackeys, like stars circling the moon.

He would use absolute strength to wash away his previous humiliation and tell everyone who the true powerhouse of the Lin Family's younger generation was—aside from those two freaks, Lin Yan and Lin Xue!

He arrived before the Martial Proving Stele, swept an eerie glance toward where Lin Chen stood in the crowd, then abruptly pressed his palm against the stele!

Boom!

In an instant, the Martial Proving Stele began to shake violently! Dazzling white light shot into the sky, nearly making it impossible to keep one's eyes open! Within the light, there was even a faint trace of pale gold! At the same time, a deep yet penetrating hum rang throughout the arena!

Buzzz—!

The light and sound lasted for a full five or six breaths before gradually subsiding!

"Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Peak!" Even Third Elder Lin Zhenyue's voice carried a trace of surprise. "Lin Bao, very good! You are only one step away from the Fifth Layer!"

"Wow—!!!"

The entire arena erupted completely!

"My heavens! Fourth Layer Peak! Brother Leopard is actually at the Fourth Layer Peak!" "Too strong! With this strength, he should be second only to Brother Lin Yan and Miss Lin Xue, right?" "No wonder Brother Leopard was so confident! That Lin Chen is dead for sure this time!" "So the rumors that he failed to reach the Fifth Layer were false? Or has he already recovered?"

All kinds of astonished, envious, and reverent voices surged forth like a tide!

Listening to the praise and feeling the reverent looks around him, Lin Bao's pale face flushed with smug delight, and the knot in his heart was swept clean away! He turned around triumphantly, his gaze locking onto Lin Chen once again like a venomous snake, brimming with naked provocation and killing intent!

It was as though he were saying: Trash, do you see it? This is the unbridgeable gulf between us! Just wait to die!

On the high platform, Great Elder Lin Zhenhong stroked his beard, a satisfied smile on his face as he looked at Lin Bao with pride.

Household Head Lin Xiaotian nodded slightly as well. Though he disliked Lin Bao's character, the talent and strength Lin Bao had displayed truly made him a rare talent of the Lin Family.

However, at the very height of the arena's attention, an ill-timed name was read out by the steward recording the results in a somewhat hesitant and peculiar tone:

"N-Next, Lin Chen!"

Whoosh—!

The martial arts arena, which had been roaring moments ago, seemed to have been hit with a pause button and instantly sank into an eerie silence!

Everyone's gazes, like searchlights, focused in unison on the black-clad youth at the back of the crowd, who had been silently keeping his head lowered!

He was here!

It was finally his turn!

That former genius, now a piece of trash!

That "madman" who had dared to defy the Su Family, confront Wang Teng head-on, and issue a military pledge!

Did he truly dare to step onto the stage?

Was his so-called "Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer" real or fake?

Countless gazes, filled with curiosity, doubt, mockery, and anticipation... pressed down upon Lin Chen as though they had substance!

The smug smile on Lin Bao's face froze for an instant before turning into even deeper resentment and contempt. He wanted to see what tricks this trash could possibly pull!

On the high platform, Lin Zhenhong snorted coldly, his eyes full of disgust. Lin Xiaotian's gaze was deep as he stared fixedly at Lin Chen, as though trying to see through this youth who had become increasingly inscrutable to him. Third Elder Lin Zhenyue furrowed his brow slightly, curiosity in his eyes. Elder Qiu—if he were present, perhaps hidden away in some corner—might have curved his lips into an imperceptible smile.

Under the attention of the entire crowd, Lin Chen slowly raised his head.

His face bore just the right amount of nervousness and unease, but even more than that, there was the firm resolve of one who had smashed his cauldrons and sunk his boats!

Ignoring the varied looks around him, he took a deep breath—naturally, that was an act too—then started forward, walking steadily toward the Martial Proving Stele in the center of the arena, one step at a time.

His pace was not fast, but every step seemed to land upon everyone's heartstrings!

The entire martial arts arena was silent as a cicada in winter! A needle dropping could have been heard!

Everyone unconsciously held their breath!

At last, Lin Chen arrived before the Martial Proving Stele.

He raised his head and looked at the black, icy stele, as though seeing the humiliation and unwillingness he had endured over the past three years.

Then, he slowly raised his right hand.

Under countless gazes, he gently pressed his palm against the cold surface of the Martial Proving Stele!

At that instant, time itself seemed to freeze!

Everyone's hearts rose to their throats!

A cruel sneer curled Lin Bao's lips as he waited for Lin Chen to make a fool of himself! He waited for the stele to show no reaction at all!

Lin Zhenhong's eyes were full of contempt and disgust, already prepared to immediately make trouble for Lin Chen after his failure!

Lin Xiaotian's expression was complex. Deep in his heart, there was both a trace of nearly imperceptible expectation and profound concern.

However—

At the instant Lin Chen's palm touched the stele!

Buzz!!!

Without any warning!

A clear, bright white radiance, like autumn waters, suddenly burst forth from the Martial Proving Stele!

This light was not as dazzling as Lin Bao's, nor did it bear the faint gold that symbolized the peak. Yet it was exceptionally pure! Exceptionally condensed! Like the purest crystal, it radiated a steady aura that made hearts tremble!

Immediately afterward, a clear and pleasant humming sound, like the gentle chime of a jade chime stone, rang out as well! It was not loud, yet it was remarkably distinct, carrying a strange rhythm as though proclaiming an indisputable truth!

Though this light and sound did not possess Lin Bao's grand momentum, their stability and duration were not inferior in the slightest! In fact... they seemed faintly superior!

They lasted for nearly four full breaths! This represented true qi condensation and a solid foundation far beyond those of the same realm!

"Th-This is..." The steward recording the results was dumbfounded in shock, and the brush in his hand nearly fell to the ground!

On the high platform, Third Elder Lin Zhenyue abruptly rose to his feet, his eyes full of unbelievable shock! He stared intently at the clear white light that had yet to fully fade from the Martial Proving Stele, then at Lin Chen's palm still pressed against it, as though trying to confirm that he had not seen wrong!

After a brief deathly silence—

"Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer!!" Third Elder Lin Zhenyue took a deep breath and announced word by word in a voice filled with intense shock and disbelief, "Lin Chen, Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer Mid-stage! Solid foundation! Passed!!"

Boom!!!!

It was like dropping a massive bomb into a tranquil lake!

The entire martial arts arena instantly exploded into uproar!

"What?! Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer Mid-stage?!" "Did I hear that right?! Lin Chen?! That trash Lin Chen?!" "How is that possible?! He had no cultivation at all three days ago!" "Could it be... he really recovered?! And even broke through directly to the Triple Layer Mid-stage?!" "Solid foundation?! Third Elder actually used the words 'solid foundation' to describe him?!" "My heavens! This is simply... a miracle!!"

Cries of shock! Voices of doubt! Discussions filled with disbelief! They swept across the entire martial arts arena in an instant like mountains collapsing and seas roaring!

Everyone was utterly stunned by this result!

This was no longer a simple "pass"! This was "a single cry startling the world"!

A piece of trash judged to possess "crippled meridians," who had remained silent for three years, had not only recovered his cultivation in just a few days, but had directly reached the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer Mid-stage! Even more terrifyingly, his foundation had been judged "solid"?! This completely overturned everyone's understanding!

Within the crowd, Lin Hu's smug face instantly turned deathly pale, his eyes full of shock and fear! He was at the Triple Layer Late-stage! Yet the Martial Proving Stele's reaction just now seemed to be... inferior to that of Lin Chen, who was only at the Triple Layer Mid-stage?! How could that be possible?!

The resentment and contempt on Lin Bao's face froze completely! In their place came ghostly shock and uncontrollable fury! "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! He cheated! He must have cheated!" he screamed in a loss of composure. His agitation even pulled at his internal injuries, making him cough violently as his face turned even paler!

On the high platform, the smile on Great Elder Lin Zhenhong's face vanished completely, replaced by an ashen expression! He stared fixedly at Lin Chen, his gaze so sinister it seemed capable of dripping water! How could this trash possibly...? Had Lin Chen been concealing his strength all along? Or had... some unknown change occurred to him?! A powerful sense of unease instantly enveloped Lin Zhenhong's heart!

Household Head Lin Xiaotian's pupils suddenly constricted! An unprecedented brilliance burst from his eyes! He stared intently at the youth still standing before the Martial Proving Stele, whose expression was calm—though internally he was calculating the timing—and enormous waves rose in his heart! Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer Mid-stage! Solid foundation! This... this was even more dazzling than Lin Chen had been three years ago! Could it be... the Lin Family's qilin child was truly returning?! Immense delight and hope instantly diluted Xiaotian's previous doubts and dissatisfaction!

Even Second Elder Lin Zhenshan's usually still, ancient-well-like face revealed a rare trace of surprise.

And in some unknown corner, Elder Qiu, who had silently watched everything unfold, had a knowing smile flash through his clouded old eyes. He lifted his teapot and took a satisfied sip.

Amid the stunned gazes of the entire arena and the deafening discussions, Lin Chen slowly withdrew his palm.

A trace of just the right "exhaustion" and "relief" appeared on his face. He bowed deeply toward the elders on the high platform, his voice not loud but carrying the ease and resolve of someone who had washed away humiliation:

"This disciple, Lin Chen, has not failed his mission!"

After saying that, he did not look at anyone's reaction, nor did he pay attention to the shocked, jealous, or probing gazes around him. He turned around and silently retreated into the crowd, hiding himself once more, as though the one who had just caused such a sensation throughout the arena had not been him.

Yet in everyone's eyes, this "low-profile" demeanor only added further mystery and unfathomable depth to him!

A single cry startled the world! The entire arena was shocked!

Lin Chen had answered every doubt and mockery in the most direct and most shocking way! He had also successfully pushed himself onto the crest of the storm!

But he knew this was only the beginning!

Cultivation verification was merely an appetizer.

The coming live combat duels would be the true main course! They were also the key to carrying out the next step of his plan!

His gaze casually swept over Lin Bao not far away, whose face was ashen and whose eyes brimmed with resentment.

The prey had already entered the net.

Next came the question of how to "hunt" it!

Because of Lin Chen's earth-shattering performance, the atmosphere in the martial arts arena became even more scorching and strange. Everyone's eyes unconsciously shifted back and forth between him and Lin Bao, filled with anticipation!