That declaration was like the final straw that completely crushed Ye Xuan’s proud Dao Heart.
Humiliation! Unprecedented humiliation!
He, Ye Xuan, born with great fortune, accompanied by his grandfather’s soul, believed himself to be the true dragon chosen by fate!
He had endured countless hardships, shed sweat a hundredfold more than others, and only then did he achieve what he had today.
He thought this much-anticipated Academy Tournament would be the moment he stepped on Lin Yuan’s corpse and soared into the sky.
But what happened?
He didn’t even qualify to make Lin Yuan act!
Just a single thought, a wave of pressure—and he lost!
So thoroughly defeated, so miserable, so ridiculous!
“Why… why is it like this…” Ye Xuan lay on the ground, unable to move, blood and tears of humiliation mixing and flowing from the corner of his eyes.
He didn’t understand!
He couldn’t comprehend it!
That useless waste Lin Yuan, with nothing but his background, a good-for-nothing who did nothing but sleep all day—how could he possess such terrifying power?
It didn’t make sense!
It wasn’t fair!
“Master… master!” Ye Xuan screamed within his mind, his voice trembling with despair. “What… what realm is he? How can he be so strong? This is impossible!”
Inside his sea of consciousness, silence.
After a long while, the aged voice of the Extreme Dao Ancestor finally echoed, but this time, it carried an unprecedented heaviness—and a trace of… fear.
“Boy… this Lin Yuan… is unfathomable! I can’t see through him… but that oppressive pressure just now, that suppression from the very level of life itself… I’ve only witnessed it once in my entire life! His true cultivation… at the very least… at the very least, it’s the 7th or 8th stage of the Bone Refining Realm! Maybe even…”
The Extreme Dao Ancestor paused, as if even voicing that possibility felt absurd.
“Maybe… he has already reached the peak of the 9th stage Bone Refining Realm!”
Boom—!
Peak of the 9th stage Bone Refining Realm!
That sentence struck Ye Xuan’s soul like a divine lightning bolt!
He was stunned, his mind went blank, and he couldn’t even think.
9th stage Bone Refining Realm?
How was that possible!
He was only eighteen!
In the entire history of the Celestial Dragon Nation, the youngest person to reach the 9th stage Bone Refining Realm was twenty-two!
Why Lin Yuan?
He had risked his life, had countless fortuitous encounters, and with his master’s help, barely broke through to the 2nd stage Bone Refining Realm, and he was already hailed as a once-in-a-century prodigy.
And Lin Yuan?
All he did was sleep and daze around!
Why was the gap not only not shrinking, but growing into a hopeless chasm?!
Unwillingness! Rage! Resentment!
“Pu—”
Ye Xuan could no longer suppress it and vomited another mouthful of blood, dyeing the platform beneath him red.
His consciousness sank slowly into endless darkness and despair.
…
Martial Arena, spectator seats.
Everyone was still immersed in the mind-shattering scene from earlier, unable to return to their senses for a long time.
That wasn’t a duel.
That was divine judgment upon mortals.
“It’s over… just like that?”
“Lin Yuan… he didn’t even make a move!”
“Too terrifying! Is this the true power of a prestigious family? The gap between us and him is worse than human and dog!”
After a brief silence, waves of chatter erupted.
But this time, no one dared call Lin Yuan a “lying flat freak.” No one dared mock him as a “cowardly turtle.”
Looking at that figure walking off the platform, every expression held only pure awe and fear.
In the crowd, Li Xuan’er’s face was as pale as paper. Her delicate body trembled uncontrollably.
She looked at the blood-soaked, unconscious Ye Xuan on the platform.
Then looked at Lin Yuan, whose back alone exuded indifference and detachment.
A cold chill pierced from her soles to the top of her head.
All her previous satisfaction, her disdain—all became the biggest joke of her life.
She had mocked Lin Yuan for being a coward, but he merely didn’t deem it worth his effort.
She had seen Ye Xuan as the future supreme powerhouse, her most successful investment.
But this “investment” couldn’t even withstand one move!
Turns out… she was the biggest fool!
She once had the chance to get close to that man, once enjoyed treatment every woman would go mad with jealousy for.
But she pushed it all away with her own hands.
She treated a real dragon like a purse she could empty at will, and mistook a lowly mudfish for treasure!
Regret! Endless regret gnawed at her heart like venomous snakes.
If only…
If only she had treated him differently back then, if only she had held on to that chance…
But sadly, in this world, there’s no such thing as “if.”
…
Elsewhere, Gu Ningxue’s bright eyes were also filled with shock.
She had expected Lin Yuan to win. But she never imagined it would be such a crushing, unreasonable victory!
“9th stage Bone Refining Realm…” She murmured, her heartbeat involuntarily accelerating.
This man was even more mysterious, more powerful, and more… interesting than she imagined!
She suddenly felt that the Lin Yuan who used to follow behind Li Xuan’er like a simp, and the current Lin Yuan, lazy yet tyrannical to the bone, were completely different people. This story is hosted at novelping.com.
“A lion never cares about the opinion of sheep…”
She recalled the line Lin Yuan had once said.
Now it seemed—he wasn’t boasting. He was just stating a fact.
Everyone present, including Ye Xuan, in his eyes… might really just be sheep.
…
Lin Yuan didn’t pay any attention to the storm of chatter behind him.
He walked to the sofa in the participant area and lay down again comfortably.
Butler Zhong rushed over with two maids, his face glowing with excitement.
“Young Master! You’re incredible! You must be the reincarnation of a Martial God!” Butler Zhong was so excited he couldn’t speak clearly.
“Alright, alright, enough flattery,” Lin Yuan waved his hand impatiently. “Hurry, call the old man.”
“Yes, yes!” Butler Zhong quickly dialed a number in the northern region.
The light screen lit up, and Lin Zhan’s dignified face appeared.
He had clearly just watched the broadcast. Those calm, deep eyes were now filled with barely contained shock and joy.
“You little brat! When… when did you reach the 9th stage Bone Refining Realm?!” Even Lin Zhan’s voice trembled.
“Oh, just broke through while lying around.” Lin Yuan replied casually.
Lin Zhan: “…”
He felt like a dagger had been thrust into his heart.
Back then, for him to break through to the 9th stage Bone Refining Realm, he had suffered endlessly, brushed with death countless times!
But now his grandson… just broke through while lying down?
Comparing people really drives you mad!
“Ahem!” Lin Zhan forcibly calmed himself and straightened his face, “Well done! You didn’t embarrass the Lin family!”
“Of course not,” Lin Yuan smirked. “Old man, don’t forget our deal. No backing out now.”
“Relax!” Lin Zhan waved his hand proudly, “My word is my bond! From today on, lie however you want! Whoever dares disturb you—I’ll break their legs first!”
“Deal!” Lin Yuan snapped his fingers, ending the call.
He stretched lazily and instructed Butler Zhong, “It’s done. Let’s head home. My back is killing me today. Time for a hot bath and a nap!”
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the mission “Passive Participation,” successfully humiliating the Chosen One and defending the dignity of lying flat!]
[system prompt: Evaluation—Perfect! Maximum impact with minimum effort! Distributing reward…]
[Congratulations, host, you’ve received the Heaven-tier Top-Grade Technique—Kunpeng Free Steps!]
…
Listening to the string of system prompts in his mind, Lin Yuan’s mood lifted even more.
Another Heaven-tier Top-Grade Technique?
Not a loss at all!
Just as he was about to leave…
A crisp, teasing female voice came from the side.
“Champion Lin, leaving so soon? Not staying to enjoy the cheers and admiration of the entire academy?”
Lin Yuan turned his head and saw Gu Ningxue standing there, arms crossed, smiling at him.