On What Grounds?

The only surprise in the advancement matches.

Was that Yu Xingzheng of the Four Symbols Sect, at the second level of martial arts, had actually lost to a Black Tiger Gang martial artist.

And the latter had revealed the third-level martial arts strength he had kept hidden all along!

This left the academy masters utterly astonished.

Although this Black Tiger Gang martial artist was stronger than Yu Xingzheng, the difference was quite limited. He had only won through the suppression of his cultivation level, so his foundation was presumably poor.

But with such a poor foundation, how could he have reached the third level of martial arts at such a young age?

Someone sighed. "What a pity. Gang Leader You is still too impatient. With such talent, if this disciple of your gang had spent a few more years training his fundamentals and building up his vitality and blood, his future achievements would have been even greater."

You Shahu merely shook his head. "Our Black Tiger Gang has its own unique methods. His talent may not be as exceptional as you all imagine..."

He was openly admitting that they had a method for rapid advancement!

Li Linliu and the others frowned.

In truth, everyone recalled that nearly all the Black Tiger Gang contestants this time were no longer martial artists without inner breath. They had already begun cultivating true techniques, though their foundations were generally mediocre and their strength was not especially impressive.

But no matter how weak their foundations were, they still cultivated true techniques. The leap in strength brought by true essence tempering the body surpassed even ordinary strength-training manuals!

At the third level of martial arts, one had already completed the tempering of the muscles and begun tempering the internal organs. Their strength far exceeded that of the second level, so even with an average foundation, he could defeat Yu Xingzheng!

Though Yu Xingzheng was a spoiled young master, he still possessed a second-rate foundation and had reached the second level of martial arts. He had even been tempering his muscles for a full year. Other than that third-level martial artist, his cultivation was the highest.

Naturally, he was unwilling to accept such a defeat.

Especially when he saw Chen Fan nearby, doing nothing and having advanced straight into the top eight...

Looking back over Chen Fan's battles so far, he had been as steady as Mount Tai, but there had been no particularly dramatic moments. He had never faced a second-level martial artist, nor an exceptionally powerful inner-breath martial artist like Feng Yuancheng...

It gave people the feeling that they could have done it too!

In reality, Chen Fan had defeated more than one inner-breath martial artist. That included martial artists who cultivated true techniques, not to mention inner-breath martial artists like Li Wen, who cultivated first-rate manuals. He was already quite formidable!

But Yu Xingzheng was one of Flying Spirit County's two notorious spoiled young masters to begin with, and his personality was extremely self-centered.

He was no good person. In his anger, he led the Four Symbols Sect disciples and gathered before the viewing platform.

This naturally caused an uproar among the crowd!

Gao Yi, the Four Symbols Sect's master, frowned at Yu Xingzheng, who stood at the forefront. "Xingzheng, what are you trying to do?!"

Yu Xingzheng stood tall with his head raised, looking spirited as he faced the academy masters. "I refuse to accept this. I fought hard and lost. A loss is a loss, and I accept it! But why should someone get directly into the top eight just because he was lucky in the draw?"

He was actually making a fuss now!

Li Linliu frowned at Yu Xingzheng. "Enough nonsense. State your demand clearly."

Yu Xingzheng froze. Looking at the handsome young man only a few years older than himself, the corner of his mouth twitched.

"I only ask for fairness. That Chen Fan hasn't beaten any of the seven of us, so what gives him the right to enter the top eight? I demand that Chen Fan compete fairly with the seven of us for the final spot!"

Li Linliu sneered and shook his head. "I think you simply can't accept defeat."

Yu Xingzheng snorted.

The big shots promptly called Chen Fan over and explained the situation to him.

The old Four Symbols Sect master looked somewhat embarrassed, but he was also unwilling to accept his disciple's early elimination. Shamelessly, he looked at Chen Fan and said:

"How about this? The seven of them fight first and determine one contestant. Then that person competes against you, Chen Fan, and one of you two advances... You would have it easiest, Chen Fan. You only need to wait..."

He made it sound as though Chen Fan were getting a huge advantage.

Li Linliu glanced at the Four Symbols Sect master, but before the old man could say anything more, he turned to Chen Fan and asked only one question. "Are you willing?"

Seeing Li Linliu's attitude, Chen Fan knew that he was firmly backing him. He answered decisively, "I'm not."

The academy masters were all stunned. None of them had expected Chen Fan to be so decisive.

When the Four Symbols Sect master heard Chen Fan's refusal, his expression became exceptionally awkward.

Li Linliu's eyes lit up instead, and he looked at Chen Fan with clear appreciation.

Yu Xingzheng's gaze turned cold. He walked up to Chen Fan and looked down at him. "Those with inferior strength should step down, while the stronger should rise. You're unwilling? What right do you have to refuse... Are you afraid of us?"

His tone was utterly repulsive.

With Li Linliu firmly supporting him, Chen Fan was extremely displeased with this guy's attitude.

"I advanced to the top eight because I drew a bye, according to the rules. Why should I compete with a bunch of losers for a qualification I already possess?!"

Why had Yu Xingzheng not protested right after the drawing? Because he had assumed he would not lose. Only after losing had he thought of trying to seize the final top-eight spot. How could it possibly be that easy!

Even if Chen Fan did not fear Yu Xingzheng, he would not surrender his own interests!

He was in the right, and he had already displayed a certain degree of strength and talent. With Li Linliu beside him, he had gained some confidence as well.

Yu Xingzheng's face reddened. "What did you say, you bastard? I'm a loser?!"

Chen Fan glanced sideways at him without answering.

Yu Xingzheng's face was filled with fury. He took a step forward and glared straight at Chen Fan, his eyes sharp and fierce.

He was nearly eighteen years old and stood a full six feet three inches tall. His voice was deep and powerful, carrying immense pressure.

"I'll only ask this once. Isn't this Flying Spirit County martial competition meant to determine the strongest person under eighteen? If I'm stronger than you, why shouldn't I rank above you!"

Chen Fan did not want to offend people, but that did not mean he would let others bully him for no reason. Besides, he was no longer the insignificant nobody he had once been.

Now, he was a talented disciple of White Cloud Martial Academy, with powerful backing. If he showed no backbone at all, people would only look down on him.

He sneered. "By your logic, wouldn't all five hundred contestants have to fight every other person before we could determine first, second, third, and fourth place? Do you think there weren't powerful people among those eliminated early, people who refused to accept it?"

Yu Xingzheng was stunned by those words.

That was how the tournament format worked. Even if such people existed, there was nothing to be done.

During the qualifying matches on the various stages, there had been second-level martial artists who lost. Did that mean they lacked the strength to enter the top thirty?

Yu Xingzheng gritted his teeth and said furiously, "Even so, no one should win without fighting! I simply refuse to accept it! Unless you can defeat me!"

Overbearing and unreasonable, this notorious spoiled young master of Flying Spirit County was clearly determined to play dirty.

His muscles bulged as he stepped forward coldly and stood before Chen Fan, his fist held across his chest as though he were about to attack Chen Fan on the spot.

Chen Fan gave a cold laugh, completely unafraid as he glanced sideways at Yu Xingzheng and the others behind him.

At that moment, Li Linliu shook his head with a smile, stepped forward, and stood in front of Chen Fan. Looking at the crowd, he smiled faintly.

"There's no need to discuss this any further. Without rules, there can be no order. Chen Fan advanced with a bye, and you were eliminated. Those are already facts! Since Chen Fan is unwilling to give you another chance, then this matter... ends here!"

Li Linliu's voice was not loud, but it carried an unmistakable air of finality.

And when Li Linliu stood before Chen Fan and spoke those words.

The academy masters exchanged glances, unsure what to say.

Gao Yi, the Four Symbols Sect master, frowned and shot Yu Xingzheng a glare.

Li Linliu himself was at the sixth level of martial arts, no weaker than these academy masters. Moreover, he was only in his twenties and was a genius among geniuses. How could any of them dare provoke him lightly?

Not to mention that he was already in the right!

Yu Xingzheng's face darkened. Facing the young man before him, he clenched his fists, yet he was powerless to do anything but glare viciously at Chen Fan.

Following Li Linliu's words, the disciples behind Yu Xingzheng began whispering among themselves.

People usually sided with reason rather than personal ties, but most of these people were Four Symbols Sect disciples, so they naturally leaned toward Yu Xingzheng.

Yet faced with Li Linliu's dominance, someone took advantage of the commotion to call out, "Why should it end there?!"

At those words, the academy masters and instructors were all startled.

Quite a few people watched Li Linliu as though waiting for a show.

Though Li Linliu was young, his strength and status were extraordinary. In Flying Spirit County, there truly was no one who dared offend him!

Of course, given his status, he would not casually make a move against junior disciples.

"Why?"

Li Linliu's gaze sharpened. He raised his hand slightly and gave a cold snort.

Buzz!

Almost the instant he spoke those words, the atmosphere around them abruptly changed.

The other big shots—the academy masters, gang leaders, and the like—actually all took a step back, staring at Li Linliu in horror!

With Li Linliu at the center, an invisible pressure seemed to fill the air throughout a certain radius.

At that moment, Yu Xingzheng and the others, along with the restless crowd, all felt a suffocating aura crash down on them like mountains and seas!

Everyone retreated involuntarily, some even collapsing onto the ground!

No one even dared breathe loudly. In moments, the surroundings had fallen completely silent...

Chen Fan was equally horrified. The power Li Linliu had displayed had already surpassed his fundamental understanding of martial arts.

Li Linliu's sharp gaze swept across the crowd before settling on Yu Xingzheng and the others. He spoke calmly. "Because I am Li Linliu."