Crippling Your Arm! Collecting More Interest!

The stage was set, and the tension was palpable!

The air seemed to have frozen, thick with an unspoken, suffocating tension, like the calm before an explosion.

Below the stage, thousands of eyes, like searchlights, focused on the two youths standing opposite each other. One was a former prodigy, his face pale, his eyes filled with malice, forcing himself to fight despite his injuries, determined to reclaim his honor. The other was a mysterious young man who had just experienced a drastic reversal from "prodigy" to "waste," his expression still one of "haze" and "loss."

This duel was brimming with suspense and drama!

Could the "dark horse" with low potential once again achieve an upset and defeat the "prodigy" who was at a higher cultivation realm but injured?

Could Lin Bao successfully exact his revenge, defend his dignity, and utterly crush the waste who had brought him endless humiliation?

Everyone's heart was in their throat, holding their breath in anticipation!

"Waste! Die!"

This time, Lin Bao wasted no more words! He knew that delay breeds change, and he was eager to wash away his shame with a resounding victory!

With a roar filled with endless hatred and killing intent, he forcibly suppressed the churning blood and energy in his chest, unleashing all the true qi he could muster without reservation!

Although his aura, at the late-stage of the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer, was slightly unstable due to his injuries, it was still formidable! He moved like a tiger descending from the mountain, charging at Lin Chen with a desperate, all-or-nothing momentum!

"Frenzied Leopard Claw! Tear the Sky!"

It was still his signature vicious claw technique! But this time, he seemed to have learned from his previous mistakes. Instead of attacking wildly, he concentrated his power intensely on his claws! His fingers became even darker and sharper, like tempered steel, tearing through the air and emitting even more piercing, ear-splitting shrieks! The claw shadows were no longer seeking density but had become more cunning and vicious! Each claw strike aimed directly at Lin Chen's vital points: throat, heart, and dantian!

Clearly, he didn't just want to win; he wanted to cripple Lin Chen! Perhaps even take his life!

Facing Lin Bao's clearly lethal attack, a chilling, bone-piercing glint flashed across Lin Chen's eyes!

Good! Just as I intended!

Since you want to cripple me, I'll cripple you first!

However, on his face, he maintained the expression of "flustered panic," as if he hadn't yet recovered from the shock of the potential test.

"Ah! You... you're serious?!" he exclaimed, and once again, he began to use the seemingly clumsy Willow Catkin Movement Technique. His body swayed like falling leaves in the wind as he started to dodge!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Lin Bao's sharp claws pursued him like clinging maggots! The fierce claw wind continuously tore at Lin Chen's clothes, even leaving shallow bloody marks on his arms and shoulders!

"Dodging? How long can you keep dodging!" Lin Bao's heart settled slightly as he saw this, and he sneered repeatedly!

Although this waste's movement technique was still strangely slippery, he clearly felt the opponent's reactions were half a beat slower this time! His focus also seemed inadequate! Several times, he almost caught him!

It seemed the results of the potential test had indeed hit him hard!

With his mind unsettled, his strength must have been greatly reduced!

Lin Bao's confidence soared, and his attacks became even more fierce and frenzied! He wanted to tear this eyesore of a waste to shreds as quickly as possible!

The crowd below the stage also buzzed with discussion.

"Look! Lin Chen is really finished! He's completely suppressed by Brother Bao this time!" "Yeah! His mind is hazy, and his movement technique has slowed down! It seems the low potential has hit him too hard!" "I knew it! Waste is just waste! His previous victories were definitely by luck!" "Sigh, what a shame. I thought we'd see a real clash of titans."

On the high platform, Lin Zhenhong's lips finally curved into a cruel smile. Waste! Let's see you be arrogant again! Just wait for death!

Lin Xiaotian, however, frowned deeply, his eyes filled with disappointment and helplessness. It seemed potential... was ultimately a hard obstacle. With such an unstable state of mind, how could he achieve anything great?

Only the Third Elder, Lin Zhenyue, still frowned, his sharp eyes intently observing Lin Chen's every move on the stage. He felt... something was not quite right. This kid's movement technique, though seemingly clumsy, dodged perfectly each time, and the amount of blood flowing from the seemingly serious wounds on his body seemed too little? More like superficial injuries?

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, almost certain that Lin Chen would be defeated...

"Enough! Lin Bao! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?!"

Lin Chen, who had been "passively taking hits" and "mentally dazed," suddenly looked up and let out a roar filled with "grief and indignation" and "despair"!

His eyes were bloodshot (forced out by true qi, of course), and his face was filled with the madness of being pushed to the brink! Like a rabbit completely enraged, ready to fight to the death!

"Even a cornered rabbit will bite! Today, I'll show you! Even if I'm a waste! I'm not someone you can bully at will!"

Before he finished speaking!

Lin Chen stopped dodging!

He stomped his foot hard, and his entire body shot forward like a cannonball, not retreating but advancing! Facing the overwhelming claw shadows of Lin Bao, he charged forward resolutely!

"Mountain Splitting Palm!"

He roared, forming a palm seal with his right hand, and unleashed the true qi he had disguised as being at the "Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Early-stage" without reservation!

A heavy, fierce palm intent, as if capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, instantly permeated the area!

His palm was even covered with a faint layer of earth-yellow light due to the high concentration of true qi!

With this palm strike, he still didn't use his full strength, only about sixty percent. But combined with the basic palm technique of Mountain Splitting Palm and his true qi condensation far exceeding his peers, its power was still extraordinary!

More importantly, the timing of his attack was precisely when Lin Bao's previous force had been exhausted, his new force not yet generated, and he had exposed a flaw due to underestimation!

"What?! You dare to fight back?!" Lin Bao was stunned for a moment, then a more intense disdain flashed in his eyes!

Mountain Splitting Palm? A common, street-level basic martial skill, and he dares to show it off?!

He sneered, not dodging or evading. The dark light on his right claw intensified, carrying an aura of tearing through everything, and he directly reached out to grab Lin Chen's striking palm!

He wanted to use absolute strength to crush this ignorant ant's palm, along with his confidence!

However...

The moment his palms were about to collide!

A chilling, bone-piercing glint flashed across Lin Chen's eyes! Along with a cunning glint of a successfully executed scheme!

The palm he swung towards Lin Bao's chest remained on its original trajectory!

But at the same time!

His left hand! The one that had been casually hanging by his side! Shot out like a venomous snake hidden in the dark!

Its speed was extreme! Its angle was incredibly tricky!

The target wasn't Lin Bao's vital points!

But the wrist of his right hand, which was reaching for him, covered in dark, sharp claws!!!

This move was too fast! Too sudden! Too unexpected!

Lin Bao had focused all his attention on Lin Chen's seemingly powerful right palm! He had no idea that Lin Chen had such a sinister follow-up move hidden!

By the time he realized something was wrong and tried to change his stance to defend himself, it was already too late!

"Not good!" Lin Bao's internal alarm bells blared!

But he was in a state where his old strength had been spent and his new strength had not yet arrived. Moreover, his chest was wide open, making it impossible to deal with two attacks simultaneously!

He could only watch helplessly as...

Lin Chen's right palm, carrying heavy force, slammed fiercely into his chest!

BOOM!!!

Another muffled, heavy thud!

Lin Bao felt as if his chest had been struck by an invisible giant hammer! His blood churned! Intense pain shot through him! He staggered backward uncontrollably!

But this wasn't the end!

The moment his chest was struck and his body lost its balance!

Lin Chen's left hand, like a venomous snake, had already precisely grasped his right wrist!

Then...

A cold light burst from Lin Chen's eyes! The terrifying power of the Body Tempering Realm Sixth Layer Early-stage Peak within him erupted without reservation! Through his left hand, it exploded outwards!

At the same time, a trace of extremely faint, yet incredibly overbearing, refining power from the Myriad Dao Furnace! Silently seeped into Lin Bao's wrist meridians through his fingertips!

"Crack!!!!!"

A crisp sound, like grinding bones, that made one's teeth ache, clearly echoed throughout the entire venue!

Accompanied by Lin Bao's pig-like, piercing scream, filled with endless pain and terror!!!

"Ahhhhhh!!! My hand!!! My wrist!!!"

Lin Bao's right wrist was twisted and deformed at an extremely bizarre angle! The bone fragments, white as snow, even pierced through his skin, exposed to the air! Blood gushed out like a fountain!

What made him even more horrified was!

He felt a scorching, overbearing force surging madly into him along the meridians of his broken wrist! Wherever it passed, his meridians felt as if they were being burned by intense flames or corroded by sulfuric acid, breaking and withering inch by inch!

The trace of chilling claw energy he had cultivated for the Frenzied Leopard Claw, in the face of this overbearing power, was like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun, instantly melting away!

It was ruined!

His right hand! The hand he relied on to perform the Frenzied Leopard Claw, and his strongest offensive technique!

It was completely ruined!!!

It wasn't just broken bones! His meridians were completely destroyed! Even if the bones could be reconnected, this hand would never be able to cultivate again! Never be able to use true qi!

This... this was more cruel than killing him! More painful than death!

"No!!!"

Lin Bao let out a heart-wrenching roar of utter despair! His eyes were bloodshot and bulging, staring fixedly at Lin Chen, his gaze filled with boundless hatred and deep fear!

This guy! This trash!

How could he be so strong?! How dare he inflict such a vicious blow?!

Didn't he have low potential?! Wasn't he supposed to be mentally unstable?!

Why... why did it turn out like this?!

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence once more!

Everyone was completely stunned by the bloody and brutal scene before them!

No one had expected that this seemingly mismatched duel would end in such a tragic manner!

Even fewer had expected that Lin Chen, who appeared "dispirited" and "vulnerable," would suddenly unleash such terrifying strength! Such ruthless methods!

To cripple Lin Bao's right hand! And to completely destroy his meridians! This was simply killing the spirit!

"You scoundrel!!! How dare you!!!"

From the high platform, the Great Elder Lin Zhenhong could no longer maintain his composure! He abruptly stood up, his beard and hair bristling, and a terrifying, powerful pressure belonging to a Foundation Establishment Realm expert, like a collapsing mountain and a surging tide, pressed down fiercely towards Lin Chen on the martial stage!

He wanted to personally kill this audacious little beast!

However, the moment his pressure descended...

"Hmph!"

A cold snort, also containing immense pressure, came from the Patriarch, Lin Xiaotian! An even more potent and domineant aura instantly neutralized Lin Zhenhong's pressure!

"Great Elder!" Lin Xiaotian slowly stood up. Although his expression was grim, his eyes were exceptionally firm as he looked at Lin Zhenhong and said in a deep voice, "Martial arts sparring involves unpredictable blows! Lin Bao's lack of skill is his own fault, no one else's! Moreover, he repeatedly provoked others before, even attempting to kill them. His current predicament is entirely self-inflicted! If you, as an elder, bully a junior and interfere in a match between young disciples, do not blame me for showing no mercy!"

The Patriarch was openly protecting Lin Chen?! He was even willing to fall out with the Great Elder?!

Lin Xiaotian's words once again caused an uproar throughout the entire venue! It left the already shocked crowd even more bewildered!

Lin Zhenhong's face turned ashen. He stared intently at Lin Xiaotian, then glanced at Lin Chen on the stage, who maintained his expression of "astonishment" and "innocence." His chest heaved violently, almost exploding with rage!

But he knew Lin Xiaotian was right! If he were to forcefully intervene now, he wouldn't just be in the wrong, but he would also completely enrage Lin Xiaotian, potentially sparking internal conflict within the family!

"Good! Good! Good!" Lin Zhenhong uttered the word "good" three times, his voice chillingly cold and filled with boundless killing intent. "Lin Xiaotian! Lin Chen! You two just wait!"

After issuing his threat, he abruptly flicked his sleeve and turned, leading a few trusted elders away from the martial arts field without a backward glance! He didn't even bother with his grandson, who was severely injured and unconscious (this time he was truly in too much pain to stay conscious)!

Clearly, he was beyond furious! He also realized the gravity of the situation! He had to return immediately and rework his plans against Lin Chen!

Watching the Great Elder depart in anger, a resolute glint flashed in Lin Xiaotian's eyes. He knew that from this moment on, the conflict between him and the Great Elder's faction would be completely out in the open! There would be no room for reconciliation!

But he had no regrets!

For Lin Chen, this prodigy with boundless potential (even though the potential stone test results were strange, he trusted his own judgment more!)! For the future hope of the Lin Family! All of this was worth it!

He turned his head and looked at Lin Chen on the stage, his gaze softening considerably, even carrying a hint of admiration?

Meanwhile, Lin Chen remained in his act of having "caused a major incident" and being "at a loss." He even displayed a touch of "fear" and "grievance."

He spoke "fearfully" from the stage, "Patriarch... Esteemed Elders... I... I really didn't do it on purpose... It was Brother Bao who... who forced me..."

These words left everyone speechless once again.

Didn't do it on purpose? Forced you?

Who would believe that!

Your series of actions just now were fluid, seamless, sinister, and ruthless! How could that possibly look like being forced?! It was clearly premeditated!

But at this moment, no one dared to step forward and accuse him.

Even the Great Elder had retreated in defeat, and the Patriarch was clearly protecting him. Who would dare to court disaster now?

The attendant in charge of judging was sweating profusely. He quickly stepped forward to check Lin Bao's injuries, confirming that only his right arm was crippled and his life was not in danger, before he tremblingly announced:

"The... thirty-second match, Lin... Lin Chen wins!"

With the announcement of this result, Lin Chen's name was once again etched deeply into the hearts of all the Lin Family disciples, like a brand.

This time, it was no longer simple shock and awe.

It was fear!

A monstrous talent with bizarre strength, a ruthless heart, and the ability to feign weakness to deceive the strong!

Such a person must never be offended!

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Chen once again bowed "fearfully," then "dejectedly" walked off the competition stage, returning to his secluded corner.

The practical combat ranking battles continued.

But no matter how exciting the subsequent matches were, they seemed to lose their luster.

Everyone's minds were still immersed in the thrilling and constantly reversing duel that had just concluded.

Lin Chen's name was destined to leave a profound mark on the Lin Family today!

And Lin Chen himself, with his head lowered, curled his lips into a cold smile that only he could understand.

Crippling Lin Bao's arm, collecting a bit of interest, deterring the petty, and gaining the Patriarch's protection...

Everything was proceeding according to plan! It was even more perfect than he had anticipated!

Next, it was time to wait for the opportune moment to execute the final "hunt"!

Crimson Sun Grass! Here I come!

Oh no, I'm already here.

That mysterious Beast Hide Book, and the Nine-Orifice Black Stone that caused the Furnace's anomaly.

Lin Chen's heart began to burn with excitement once more.