The journey back to Qingshi Town was dull and oppressive.

The blood and thrills in the ruins had not yet dissipated, and the "click-clack" sound of the Gold-Eroding Ants gnawing, along with the desperate screams of companions dying, seemed to still echo in their ears. The fifteen-person team moved forward in silence, everyone nursing injuries, morale low, a far cry from the high spirits they had when they set out.

Sun Miao's expression was gloomy, his knuckles white as he gripped the Jade Slip Lin Xuan had given him. This trip had cost nearly thirty percent of their manpower, yet they had only exchanged it for some Earth Vein identification methods, medicinal bath recipes, and route information. The core Legacy and those suspected secret treasures had all fallen into the hands of Lin Xuan, an outsider. How was he supposed to explain this result after returning to the Sect? He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the steady-paced youth in plain clothes within the team, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Was this boy a blessing or a curse?

Su Qingyue followed not far behind Sun Miao, her beautiful face carrying undisguised exhaustion and a trace of bewilderment. Scenes from the stone hall flashed repeatedly in her mind: the shock of Lin Xuan triggering the golden light of the stone stele, his composure in dealing with the insect tide, and... the cold decisiveness with which he counter-killed the attacker in the blink of an eye. Was this still the same Lin Xuan who had been silent and forbearing on the martial arts practice field, the one she had regarded as "worlds apart" from her? A kind of unprecedented cognitive shock caused certain long-held beliefs of hers to quietly crack.

Wang Mang and Li Dali walked on either side of Lin Xuan, their spirits surprisingly good. Wang Mang had thick skin and flesh, and the bites from the Gold-Eroding Ants were only superficial wounds. He was currently grimacing while rubbing his arm, but still did not forget to give Lin Xuan a thumbs up: "Brother Lin, that move just now was really powerful! I've long found that sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked guy an eyesore! Good riddance!" Li Dali carefully put away the broken Puppet crystal cores and said in a low voice: "Brother Lin, after we get back, see if these things are useful to you. We'll split them as we agreed. Also, that Old Man Sun's expression doesn't look too good; you need to be extra careful."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly without saying much. Most of his attention was immersed in the basic part of the Ancient God Body Refining Technique he had just obtained in his mind, as well as the cold touch coming from the grey Storage Ring on his left hand. This basic part was indeed profound, quite complementary to his Basic Martial Dao Spirit-Transformation Art, especially in terms of tempering the minute structures of the Physical Body, the ultimate control of Qi and blood transport, and invoking special energies like the Earth Vein Evil Qi, providing a more systematic and overbearing method. And the Storage Ring... with a slight movement of his mind, he could clearly perceive the stable space of three zhang square, as well as the dark red metal piece and beast skin scroll lying quietly inside. It was not the time to investigate for now.

As for Sun Miao's possible dissatisfaction and potential threats... Lin Xuan sneered in his heart. He had even broken through the Million-Year Martial Dao Tower; the greed and scheming of a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator were not enough to shake him. Strength was the foundation of everything.

It was already evening when they returned to the Yunni Sect stronghold. The setting sun was like blood, plating Qingshi Town in an ominous red glow.

Deacon Wang had already received the news and came out to welcome them. Seeing the team's disheveled state and the significantly reduced number of people, his heart sank, but he did not show it on his face. He first arranged for the wounded to receive treatment, then respectfully said to Sun Miao: "Junior Martial Uncle Sun, you have worked hard. Please rest first, and we can discuss the details later."

Sun Miao waved his hand, his expression gloomy amidst his exhaustion: "Junior Martial Nephew Wang, arrange a quiet room. I need to organize the gains from this exploration and report to the Sect immediately. Also..." He paused and looked at Lin Xuan, who was preparing to leave, "Little Friend Lin has contributed greatly this time. According to the agreement, he has already copied a portion of the exploration gains for me. You should arrange a quiet place for him to stay; do not neglect him."

How shrewd was Deacon Wang? He immediately heard the subtle attitude in Sun Miao's words toward Lin Xuan—he both affirmed his contribution and implicitly meant to "keep an eye" on him. He quickly agreed: "Yes, this Disciple understands. Little Friend Lin, please follow me."

Lin Xuan was noncommittal about this, nodded slightly to Sun Miao, and followed Deacon Wang away. Su Qingyue watched his back disappear around the corner of the corridor, was silent for a moment, and then turned back to her own residence.

Deacon Wang led Lin Xuan to a small, independent courtyard on the west side of the stronghold. Although not luxurious, it was clean and tidy, with simple protective Restrictions, and was quite quiet. "Little Friend Lin, are you satisfied with this place? If you have any needs, feel free to order the guarding Disciples."

"Thank you, Deacon Wang," Lin Xuan said.

Deacon Wang hesitated for a moment and whispered: "Little Friend Lin, regarding the Black Wind Ridge ruins, Junior Martial Uncle Sun's side... I'm afraid it will take some time to reach a conclusion. However, there is one thing right now that might be an opportunity for you."

"Oh? What is it?" Lin Xuan asked.

"Three days from now, our Yunni Sect's Outer Sect will hold a quarterly small competition, aimed at testing the Disciples' cultivation and encouraging latecomers. By convention, Guest Elders, Named Disciples, and even Loose Cultivators who have made contributions can sign up to participate. If you perform well, not only will there be rich rewards, but there will also be an opportunity to receive further recognition from the Sect, and even be promoted exceptionally." Deacon Wang looked at Lin Xuan, "With Little Friend Lin's ability, if you can stand out in the small competition, regardless of the outcome on Junior Martial Uncle Sun's side, it will be of great benefit to your footing in the Sect."

Lin Xuan understood in his heart. This was Deacon Wang currying favor with him, and it was also an opportunity for him to make a public appearance, demonstrate his value, and strive for a formal status. At the same time, he was probably also wanting to take this opportunity to further observe his strength and methods.

"Are there any rule Restrictions?" Lin Xuan asked.

"There are no special Restrictions, just one: do not intentionally cause injury or death; stop at the point of contact." Deacon Wang said, "The small competition is divided into Early Stage, Middle Stage, and Late Stage groups of Qi Refining. Little Friend Lin, you... can choose the group to sign up for according to your own wishes."

Lin Xuan nodded: "Good, I will participate."

A smile appeared on Deacon Wang's face: "Then I will look forward to the good news from Little Friend Lin. For these three days, you can rest assured here and prepare for the small competition. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

After sending off Deacon Wang, Lin Xuan closed the courtyard gate and activated the simple Restriction. He did not rest, but immediately sat cross-legged, first taking out the dark red metal piece and the beast skin scroll.

The metal piece felt heavy and cold in his hand. The engraved mountain and river textures seemed chaotic, but observing them carefully with "Spiritual Qi perception," one could discover extremely complex and obscure energy veins within, more like a fragment of a map or some kind of Formation hub, which could not be made sense of for the time being. Lin Xuan put it back into the Storage Ring.

Opening the beast skin scroll, a desolate and ancient aura rushed towards him. The scroll did not contain text, but a series of coherent, dynamic cultivation diagrams! The figures in the diagrams posed in incredible postures, invoking various visions of earth, fire, wind, and water to temper themselves, with a very small number of unrecognizable ancient seal script annotations on the side. This was not a systematic Cultivation Technique, but more like a cultivation guide for a "battle skill" or "Divine Ability," named Three Mountain-Shaking Forms, with only the general outline of the first form, "Mountain Crushing," remaining. Even incomplete, the power Concept contained within made Lin Xuan's spirit stir; it faintly coincided with the fist theory he had learned, and seemed to be able to greatly exert the power of the Physical Body.

"Good stuff." Lin Xuan carefully put away the scroll as well. Whether it was the map clues of the metal piece or the incomplete Three Mountain-Shaking Forms, they all needed to be explored slowly in the future.

For the next three days, Lin Xuan did not leave his door. On one hand, he used the Basic Martial Dao Spirit-Transformation Art to consolidate the Realm of [Spiritual Power like a Tide], and on the other, he tried to incorporate the Qi and blood tempering method from the Basic Ancient God Body Refining Technique into his own cultivation. He did not rashly invoke the Earth Vein Evil Qi, but instead, with the slightly higher concentration of Spiritual Qi in this place, used [Source Martial Spiritual Energy] to simulate that overbearing tempering process, slowly and continuously strengthening his bone density, muscle fiber toughness, and even the vitality of his internal organs. At the same time, he also divided his attention to repeatedly ponder the Concept of the first form of the Three Mountain-Shaking Forms, "Mountain Crushing," incorporating its essence into his own control of power.

In three days, his cultivation did not advance by leaps and bounds, but his control over power and the minute strengthening of his Physical Body made Lin Xuan feel that his strength was a few points more solid.

On the fourth day, the Yunni Sect Outer Sect martial arts arena.

Flags were waving and the crowd was boisterous. Almost all the Outer Sect Disciples and deacons in Qingshi Town, as well as many townspeople and Loose Cultivators who came to watch the fun, gathered here. The quarterly small competition was an important opportunity for Outer Sect Disciples to be promoted and obtain resources, and for Guest Elders and Loose Cultivators, it was a stage to show their strength, seek backers, or gain recognition.

Three high platforms were set up in the center of the martial arts arena, corresponding to the competitions for the Qi Refining Early Stage (1st to 3rd levels), Middle Stage (4th to 6th levels), and Late Stage (7th to 9th levels). Protective light shields were set up around the high platforms to prevent the aftermath of the competition from injuring onlookers.

Deacon Wang, as one of the Outer Sect deacons, was responsible for presiding over the Middle Stage of Qi Refining competition. Elder Sun Miao sat on the main viewing platform in the north, with the other two Outer Sect Elders stationed here beside him, their expressions bland, unable to tell whether they were happy or angry. Su Qingyue also sat in the Disciple seats, her eyes occasionally sweeping towards the registration desk.

Lin Xuan was still wearing his coarse cloth short-sleeved outfit today, looking inconspicuous in the crowd. Under the guidance of Deacon Wang, he registered his name at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining registration desk. This action caused a small commotion.

"Middle Stage of Qi Refining group? Is that Lin Xuan? Heard he has great strength?"

"What is the use of having great strength? This is a competition of Daoist cultivation! Without Spiritual Qi, relying solely on brute force, how many rounds can you last?"

"Exactly, he is probably just trying to show off and seeking attention."

"Shh, keep your voice down. I heard that at Black Wind Ridge..."

Discussions erupted, with most people not holding a favorable view. After all, the image of Lin Xuan having "no Spiritual Root and no Spiritual Qi" was too deeply ingrained in everyone's minds.

The competition began quickly. There were about thirty participants in the Qi Refining Middle Stage group, using a knockout format, with opponents decided by drawing lots.

Lin Xuan's first-round opponent was an Outer Sect Disciple at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, wielding a fine steel longsword, and his swordsmanship was quite proficient. Seeing that he had drawn Lin Xuan, a look of relief, and even some contempt, appeared on the Disciple's face. Clearly, he also considered Lin Xuan a soft target.

"Lin Xuan, right? I heard you have quite a bit of strength. However, the competition stage is not a place that relies solely on strength. Be sensible and get down yourself, so as to avoid getting hurt and looking ugly." That Disciple stood holding his sword, his posture arrogant.

Lin Xuan couldn't be bothered with nonsense, only saying calmly, "Please."

"Hmph, you don't know what is good for you!" The Disciple snorted coldly. With a shake of his longsword, accompanied by a whistling sound as it cut through the air, he flourished three sword flowers, aiming at Lin Xuan's upper, middle, and lower sections. This was the Yunni Sect's basic sword technique, the "Flowing Cloud Three Forms," and his mastery was not bad.

A few cheers rang out from under the stage.

However, Lin Xuan merely tilted his body slightly and shifted his footsteps, and the seemingly dense three sword flowers missed completely. The opponent only felt a blur before his eyes, and Lin Xuan had already ghost-like slipped to within half a foot of him, a palm resting on his sword-holding wrist before he knew it.

With a gentle shake.

"Clang!" The longsword slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

Then, with a gentle push.

The Disciple felt an irresistible, gentle but powerful force coming from him, and he involuntarily stumbled back seven or eight steps, plopping down on the edge of the high platform, nearly falling off, his face full of astonishment and blushing with shame.

The area under the stage went silent for an instant, followed by an uproar!

"What is going on? What happened?"

"I did not see clearly! It seemed like he just... touched him?"

"He won just like that?"

Deacon Wang's eyes flashed with insight, and he announced loudly: "First round, Lin Xuan wins!"

The Disciple scrambled up in a sorry state, picked up his sword, and jumped off the stage, looking dejected, not daring to look at Lin Xuan again.

Lin Xuan walked off the stage with a calm expression, as if he had only done a trivial thing.

In the following rounds, Lin Xuan's opponents ranged from the fifth to the sixth layer of Qi Refining. The results were shockingly similar. No matter what Spells the opponents unleashed—fireballs, ice spikes, wind blades, vine entanglements—or what Magical Artifacts or swords they used to attack, Lin Xuan could always break them in the simplest and most direct way.

He either easily dodged them with extraordinary speed and anticipation, or shattered the core of the Spells with skillful force, or withstood them with his Physical Body and then closed in to instantly subdue the enemy. His movements were concise and efficient, never dragging on. Often within two or three moves, the opponent would have their weapon knocked out of their hand, their Spells scattered, and they would be "invited" off the high platform.

There were no flashy lights of Spiritual Qi, no earth-shattering clashes; there was only a suffocating, overwhelming control of power and technique.

The audience under the stage went from initial surprise and doubt, to later silence and solemnity, and finally to waves of exclamation and disbelief.

"Is... is this really something a Martial Artist can do?"

"His speed is too fast! His reaction time is simply inhuman!"

"Did you notice? He seems to be able to see through the weak points of all Spells!"

"Withstanding low-level Spells with his Physical Body? What kind of monstrous physique is this!"

Su Qingyue's tightly clenched fists slowly loosened, her palms full of sweat. She watched that figure on the stage; every concise move he made was like a heavy hammer striking her inherent understanding.

Elder Sun Miao's face also revealed a solemn expression. He saw more clearly than the Disciples below; Lin Xuan was not only strong in his Physical Body, but his combat awareness was terrifying. His grasp of timing and insight into the opponent's weaknesses were simply like instinct. Moreover, he vaguely felt that there was an extremely obscure and uniquely characterized power flowing within Lin Xuan's body, which was definitely not just simple Qi and blood.

Soon, Lin Xuan advanced like a hot knife through butter, fighting his way into the final four of the Qi Refining Middle Stage group.

The draw results for the final four matches came out, and Lin Xuan's opponent was a lean, sinister-looking young Disciple at the Peak of the sixth layer of Qi Refining, named Wu Hao. This person was one of the followers who had been quite close to Zhao Hu, and the look he cast at Lin Xuan was filled with undisguised hostility.

"Lin Xuan, don't think that having some brute force means you can run wild in the Outer Sect." Wu Hao said in a sinister, low voice, "Senior Brother Zhao Long has already returned; you won't be able to be smug for long. Today, I will 'entertain' you properly on behalf of Junior Brother Zhao Hu."

Lin Xuan glanced at him, not bothering to pay him any mind.

The competition began. Wu Hao had clearly studied Lin Xuan's previous matches. He did not launch a strong attack right away, but instead quickly distanced himself, repeatedly forming hand seals. Instantly, he set up three "Quicksand Traps" on the stage. At the same time, he summoned a small black banner. As the banner waved, rolling black mist poured out, not only obscuring vision but also having the effect of disrupting the mind and slowing down movements!

"It is Wu Hao's 'Yin Evil Banner'! Combined with the Quicksand Spell, it is best at trapping and exhausting enemies!" A Disciple exclaimed.

The black mist instantly enveloped half the high platform. Those outside could not see the situation inside, only hearing the "gurgling" sound of the quicksand and the occasional mocking sneer from Wu Hao.

"Lin Xuan is in trouble now! Having lost his vision and being restricted by the quicksand, he cannot utilize his speed advantage!"

"Wu Hao intends to slowly grind him to death!"

Su Qingyue's heart tightened.

However, from within the black mist, Lin Xuan's voice came out calmly: "Small tricks."

Before the words had even faded, the black mist suddenly churned violently! It was as if an invisible giant beast was stirring within it!

"What?" Wu Hao was startled and uncertain, intensifying his urging of the Yin Evil Banner.

The next moment, an irresistible, invisible force erupted from Lin Xuan as the center!

"Disperse!" A low shout, like a rumble of thunder. The dense black mist was forcibly driven away and shaken off by a wave of pure power! The scene on the stage was revealed.

Lin Xuan stood steadily in the quicksand. The quicksand, which was enough to bury an ordinary person, only reached his ankles and could not sink any further! The air around his body distorted slightly, as if an invisible force field was pushing away all filth.

"How is this possible?! My Yin Evil Qi..." Wu Hao was horrified.

Lin Xuan raised his eyes, looked at Wu Hao, lifted his right foot gently, and then stomped down fiercely!

"Boom!" The entire high platform seemed to tremble! The Spiritual Qi structure of the three Quicksand Traps was completely disrupted and collapsed by that one stomp, turning back into a solid surface!

"You take a move from me, too."

Lin Xuan moved, instantly crossing a distance, arriving in front of Wu Hao. He clenched his right hand into a fist and threw a simple straight punch. This punch, seemingly plain, faintly carried a trace of the Concept of "Mountain Crushing" from the remnant of the Three Mountain-Shaking Forms—heavy, concentrated, and indomitable!

Wu Hao was terrified and hurriedly held the Yin Evil Banner in front of him, while simultaneously pushing his protective Spiritual Light to the limit.

"Bang!!!" The fist and the banner connected!

The small black banner made an unbearable "crack" sound, and the spiritual light on the banner surface instantly dimmed and shattered! Wu Hao's protective Spiritual Light shattered like paper; his whole body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, hit the protective light barrier at the edge of the high platform, bounced back to the ground, spat out blood, and passed out, the Yin Evil Banner in his hand splitting into several pieces.

The power of one punch reached such a level!

The whole arena was dead silent.

Deacon Wang took a deep breath and announced loudly: "Final four match, Lin Xuan wins! Advancing to the finals!"

The crowd under the stage was silent for a moment, then erupted into an unprecedented roar!

"One punch! Just one punch!"

"What kind of power is that? It shattered a Magical Artifact!"

"Monster! He is simply a monster!"

Lin Xuan walked down from the high platform amidst a sea of shocked gazes. He could feel Elder Sun Miao's gaze from the main viewing stand, Su Qingyue's complex stare from the Disciple seating area, and some even colder gazes from the shadows.

The Outer Sect tournament was just the beginning.

He knew that bigger storms were brewing. And his fists were already prepared.

(End of Volume 1, Chapter 8)

[Next Chapter Preview]:

Outer Sect tournament, fists suppressing all directions! Lin Xuan advances to the finals with a crushing momentum, shocking the whole audience! Who will be the opponent in the finals?

Zhao Long has returned. Upon learning of his younger brother's current situation and Lin Xuan's prominence, what actions will he take? Has the hidden murderous intent already been set up in the finals?

Elder Sun Miao's attitude is becoming increasingly subtle. How will the Sect's higher-ups view this suddenly emerging "Body Cultivator"?

Su Qingyue's Dao Heart is wavering. How will she choose between her Sect and her inner heart?

And Lin Xuan, who is only one step away from the Perfection of the first Realm of "Qi and blood transforming into Spiritual energy," can the pressure of the finals help him break through?

Next Chapter: Finals Storm, Dragon and Tiger Secret Struggle!

Lin Xuan: "The finals? It is just another touchstone. I hope the opponent can make me use some real stuff."