That's It?

Layton was annoyed. Remembering what he had just said, he felt his pride had taken a hit. He blurred out of sight and left the Virtual Universe, vanishing from the Spectator Hall.

The nearby Immortals exchanged glances, then smiled and gathered around Marquis Yuankun to congratulate him.

"Marquis Yuankun, your young disciple really is talented. His comprehension of the Law of Earth Origin is profound, and his defense is far beyond that of others at the same level. It's clear you've taught him well."

"Indeed. Your young disciple is also very experienced in combat. He must have been through plenty of trials."

"In my view, Lin Yuan is certain to enter the Core Layer of the Great Axe Arena in this Peak Warrior Tournament."

Marquis Yuankun only smiled faintly.

"The road is long. We'll see how far my disciple can go."

Lin Yuan emerged from the Battle Space and returned to the towering palace, where he waited for his next match.

Not far away, Resk appeared at the same time.

The big man still seemed to be coming to terms with their recent battle. He scratched his head as he replayed the fight in his mind, glancing around all the while.

Resk spotted Lin Yuan and walked straight toward him.

Seeing the huge figure approaching, Lin Yuan assumed the big man was still unhappy about losing and had come to cause trouble again.

But the big man said, "Strong! Very strong! I am... weak!"

His voice rumbled like thunder. After speaking, he bowed to Lin Yuan.

Then Resk added Lin Yuan as a friend on the Virtual Universe and turned to leave.

Lin Yuan was a little surprised by what Resk had said. It seemed the big man was simple-minded and admired the strong, but he treated those weaker than him quite differently.

"Beep. Master, funds have been transferred into your account."

The Smart Optical Brain issued an alert.

Lin Yuan checked and saw that Resk had transferred 10 Hunyuan Units to him.

That big fool isn't bad. He's just a bit of a bully, Lin Yuan thought.

The Ranking Tournament continued.

Over the next few days, Lin Yuan kept winning.

Many students watched the battle recordings of the top ten competitors. The recording of Lin Yuan defeating Resk spread widely.

Before long, the Universe Level students had begun to recognize Lin Yuan's name.

Many were astonished. This newcomer had arrived at the Holy Land only a little over ten years ago, yet he had displayed such strength in his first Ranking Tournament—and had yet to suffer a single defeat.

The seventeenth day of the Ranking Tournament.

Lin Yuan now had a record of "169 wins, 0 losses" and was about to face his final opponent of the day.

"Whoosh!"

Lin Yuan was teleported out of the palace.

Virtual Universe, Battle Space.

This match took place on a platform ten kilometers in diameter.

Lin Yuan appeared at one end of the platform. Several kilometers away, another figure appeared.

Lin Yuan looked over and saw a bald man. Taking a closer look, he found the man familiar: it was Barry, who had once tried to challenge him to a wager match.

Lin Yuan had a very poor impression of Barry.

From the way Barry had treated him and Cohen that day, it was clear he had probably bullied plenty of other students at the Holy Land.

"Well, look who we finally ran into! And we're fighting on a platform, too. What a coincidence."

Lin Yuan spoke first.

"Lin Yuan?"

When bald Barry saw who his opponent was, his brow furrowed.

He had watched the recording of Lin Yuan's match against Resk. Even back when Lin Yuan had sparred with Cohen, Barry had realized Lin Yuan hadn't shown even a fraction of his true ability. His command of the Law of Earth Origin and the Thousand Mountain Axe was worlds apart now from what it had been then.

Still, Barry believed he had a good chance of winning.

"Hmph, Lin Yuan. We finally meet. I've been waiting a long time for this."

Bald Barry was as arrogant as ever.

"That idiot Resk couldn't beat you, but I'm different. Ha!" Barry grinned.

"You've seen my battle recordings, right? That's right—I'm the strongest Spirit Reader Illusionist among the Universe Level students at the Nine Flame Sacred Land!"

Lin Yuan was at a loss for words.

Lin Yuan hadn't watched Barry's battle recordings.

"An Illusionist, huh..." Lin Yuan smiled with amusement.

"My teacher is a master of illusions, one of the four hundred lords of the Nine Flames Universe Kingdom: Marquis Illusion Moon!"

"Kid, this fight will be over in no time. You'd better get ready to—"

"Enough talk. Let's get started."

Lin Yuan impatiently cut him off.

"The battle will begin when the countdown ends. Five, four..."

At last, the cold mechanical voice began counting down.

Virtual Universe, Spectator Hall.

Marquis Illusion Moon looked displeased. He wished he could enter the Battle Space and shut his disciple's mouth himself.

Marquis Illusion Moon was at a loss. After all these years, he had finally found a Spirit Reader Illusionist with some talent and taken him on as a disciple. Yet he hadn't expected his disciple's character and conduct to be so poor.

"Marquis Illusion Moon."

Three figures approached. The one who spoke was Marquis Yuankun, at their head.

"I've heard you praise your second-best disciple at the Holy Land for years, boasting about how talented he is. Now that he's facing my young disciple, how confident are you in him?" Marquis Yuankun asked.

In private, Marquis Yuankun and Marquis Illusion Moon were on fairly good terms.

"Confident? If your disciple were also skilled in the Soul Path, or could create hundreds of Phantom Bodies like Brian, making it impossible to identify his true body, then he'd have a chance. Otherwise... I'm afraid things don't look good for him."

Marquis Illusion Moon replied with confidence in the disciple he had trained.

"In that case, why don't we place a wager?" Marquis Yuankun proposed.

"What are we betting?"

Marquis Yuankun raised a hand, and the projection of a clear, sparkling crystal appeared in the air.

"I'll wager this Snow God Crystal. If your disciple wins, it's yours," Marquis Yuankun said.

Marquis Illusion Moon's expression shifted. A single Snow God Crystal was worth at least several hundred thousand Hunyuan Units. Marquis Yuankun was making a serious wager.

"Fine!"

Marquis Illusion Moon was roused by the challenge. He raised a hand as well, and the projection of a black jade stone appeared before him.

"Then I'll wager this Nether Black Jade. It's worth about as much as yours."

Marquis Illusion Moon had absolute confidence in Barry's illusions.

Virtual Universe, Battle Space.

"Three, two, one!"

The mechanical countdown ended, and the battle began!

Barry stood on a purple shuttle-shaped Telepathic Weapon, his gaze cold. His lips moved slightly, as if he were muttering something.

"Vmmm—!"

An invisible wave surged toward Lin Yuan at incredible speed, crossing several kilometers in an instant and invading his mind.

At the same time, Barry activated the Purple Shuttle beneath his feet. It flashed, splitting into three beams of purple light imbued with the fluctuations of the Law of Lightning Origin. They shot straight toward Lin Yuan's head.

Yet Lin Yuan, under the illusion attack, acted as if nothing had happened.

His eyes remained clear, and his movements didn't falter in the slightest.

"That's it?" Lin Yuan said calmly.

His Domain unfolded in an instant, and the Secret Technique "Earth Tremor" quietly took effect. It was as if mountain after mountain surrounded him, and the three beams of purple light couldn't get near him at all.

"H-How is this possible?"

Barry couldn't believe it. The confident expression on his face froze in an instant.