First Battle

With a silent thought, Lin Chen rose slowly from his seat in midair under the gazes of those around him. With a flash and leap, he was the first to enter one of the four sections of the arena that the beautiful woman in purple had divided with Origin Energy.

After witnessing Liu Jiang's half-step Nirvana strength, Lin Chen was no longer particularly surprised by the Origin Energy fluctuations of the beautiful woman in green, which far surpassed Liu Jiang's.

In the Nirvana Realm, not only did one's physical strength undergo a massive qualitative transformation and gain the Nirvana Golden Body, but one's lifespan also changed. Beyond that, one could directly wield the Origin Energy of heaven and earth. Though only a small amount could be used, their overall strength was not comparable to that of a half-step Nirvana Realm cultivator.

Compared to the Great Yan Dynasty, the Great Qing Dynasty possessed far greater strength and wealth. The core members of the Great Qing Imperial Family and the Qing Xuan Sect both had enough Nirvana Pills to advance to the half-step Nirvana Realm.

This was unlike Lin Mu of the Lin Clan, who, despite being the Grand Elder, could only stop at the peak of the Creation Realm.

"Great Yan Dynasty, Lin Chen."

Looking at the yellow-robed young man who had arrived before him, Lin Chen politely introduced himself.

What answered him, however, was an exceedingly cold voice.

"Golden Feather Sect, Lu Duo."

At the same time, figures flashed into the other three arenas in succession. Then, with a wave of the purple-robed woman's hand, several Great Qing Imperial Family experts beside her activated their Origin Energy from afar, separating the arenas with Origin Energy light barriers.

Through the faint golden Origin Energy barriers, Lin Chen could clearly sense that the Origin Energy fluctuations of the people on the other three arenas were no weaker than those of the yellow-robed young man before him.

"Four at the major completion stage of the Form Creation Realm, and three at the Lesser Accomplishment of Qi Creation Realm..."

"The Great Qing Dynasty truly has quite a few geniuses. Although they are a little older, almost any group of them can rival the foremost geniuses of the Four Great Clans."

As Lin Chen sighed inwardly, the black-robed young man before him had already made the first move.

"Golden Feather Fan Slash!"

Perhaps knowing the immense gap between the major completion stage of the Form Creation Realm and the Qi Creation Realm, Lu Duo leaped into the air the instant his words fell. He drew a Gilded Feather Fan nearly three feet long from his Cosmic Bag. As Origin Energy surged and his arm swung, a golden fan blade more than ten feet long tore through the sky and shot toward Lin Chen below.

Screech! Screech!

Piercing sonic booms rang through the air, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Even those on the other three arenas who were about to begin fighting were no exception.

Facing Lu Duo, who had immediately used a High-grade Spirit Treasure to launch the first attack, Lin Chen's expression shifted slightly, and his gaze turned much colder.

"Disperse!"

Facing the incoming golden Origin Energy fan blade, which was enough to seriously injure someone at the major completion stage of the Form Creation Realm, Lin Chen gave a low shout. All the Origin Energy in his body surged forth and gathered in his half-raised palm. He then clenched his hand fiercely at the fan blade that was already close at hand.

Immediately, the golden fan blade, more than ten feet long, twisted for a moment before slowly dissipating.

A few days ago, Lin Chen would never have been able to so easily neutralize Lu Duo's attack, launched with a High-grade Spirit Treasure, using Origin Energy alone. But things were different now.

Although the major completion stage of the Form Creation Realm and the Lesser Accomplishment of Qi Creation Realm both belonged to the Three Creation Realms and were separated by only one level, there was a marked difference in the quality and power of their Origin Energy. Unless Lu Duo possessed some special and more advanced martial art, there was actually no suspense in a contest of Origin Energy between the two.

"The Qi Creation Realm truly is difficult to cross..."

Seeing that his attack had failed, Lu Duo's face instantly darkened, and a faint bitterness surfaced within him.

It does not matter if I lose in the Arena Competition hosted by the imperial family, but being eliminated in the first match would be rather humiliating...

Naturally, Lin Chen did not know what Lu Duo was thinking. At this moment, he had no interest in tangling with Lu Duo. Since he had dared to be the first onto the arena, he was not afraid of being the one to stand out.

Lu Duo was not strong enough to be his opponent, much less worth wasting his time on.

Though he did not know how strong the most powerful genius participating in the Great Qing Imperial Family's arena battle was, he had sufficient confidence in himself.

At the peak of the High-grade Spirit Talisman Master rank, his Spiritual Power was difficult for even ordinary peak Creation Realm cultivators to contend with. At the same realm, attacks of Spiritual Power were undoubtedly more unusual and powerful than Origin Energy.

"If you admit defeat now, you may still have time."

Lin Chen glanced at Lu Duo and spoke indifferently.

Under the countless gazes inside and outside the plaza, Lin Chen did not feel the slightest discomfort. As his strength increased, his confidence was no longer what it had once been.

While Lin Chen and Lu Duo faced off briefly on their arena, the other three arenas had already entered fierce battles.

The Great Qing Imperial Family's Arena Competition was not without a time limit. However, the length of that limit was entirely decided by the Great Qing Imperial Family experts. Thus, those who had entered the arenas did not dare to delay too long.

"Defeating me will not be so easy!"

After hesitating for a moment, determination appeared on Lu Duo's face as he made his choice.

Lin Chen merely smiled faintly. "Make your move!"

"Otherwise, you will not have another chance..."

As Lin Chen's words fell, ruthlessness flashed through Lu Duo's eyes as he shouted.

"Golden Feather Burst Seal!"

Lu Duo abruptly suspended the Gilded Feather Fan in his hand in midair, then formed seals with both hands and poured all his Origin Energy into the fan. After a brilliant golden flash streaked across the sky, a massive gilded seal more than thirty feet wide slowly took shape. The entire sky was shrouded in the radiance of the golden seal, yet Lin Chen's expression remained largely unchanged.

Although the golden seal condensed by the High-grade Spirit Treasure, the Gilded Feather Fan, was extremely powerful and terrifying enough that even ordinary Lesser Accomplishment Qi Creation Realm cultivators would not dare underestimate it, it was actually difficult for it to inflict any substantial harm upon him.

Compared with relatively weak Origin Energy, Spiritual Power was his true reliance.

"It is actually a Ninth-grade Martial Art of the Golden Feather Sect!"

"I did not expect Lu Duo to use this trump card so quickly. It seems the person he is facing is quite extraordinary..."

"This person is so young... He is probably even younger than Su Kui..."

"..."

"Lu Duo is indeed a genius to be able to wield the Golden Feather Sect's Ninth-grade Martial Art to such a degree."

"However, an attack of this level should not pose much of a threat to little brother Lin Chen."

On the viewing platform, Liu Cheng heard the discussions rising around him. He glanced at Lin Chen's arena and muttered to himself.

From the first moment he saw Lin Chen, Liu Cheng had felt that Lin Chen was not as simple as he appeared. That was why, driven by curiosity, he had lowered himself to befriend him.

Though Liu Cheng did not know the exact source of this feeling, he was certain that Lin Chen possessed some hidden trump card. Otherwise, how could he remain so calm before a Creation Realm cultivator like him?