Flames filled the sky and cascaded to the ground, transforming the competition stage into a sea of fire.
Ling Zhen laughed maniacally, "Fortunately, you are over level 20, otherwise I wouldn't be able to unleash my level 20 skills."
"Is my 'Rain of Fire' skill impressive?"
"Does the scent of burning fire appeal to you?"
Lin sauntered out of the inferno, taking a leisurely stroll.
The skeletal armor enveloping his body gleamed intensely, negating the flames completely.
For level 22 skeletal armor, Ling Zhen's assault was nearly as insignificant as an ant's sting.
Ling Zhen was dumbfounded. The outcome was utterly beyond his expectations.
He bellowed in disbelief, "How is this possible? This can't be happening!"
From his staff, fireballs and ice arrows erupted.
However, any strike that landed on Lin was thwarted by the skeletal armor, rendering them ineffective.
"Enough of this charade, your skills are too feeble," Lin sneered indifferently.
Flames danced upon his palms.
A spark descended onto Ling Zhen's head.
Ah!
Screams reverberated across the skies.
Clutching his head, Ling Zhen collapsed to the ground, wailing in torment.
Blood gushed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth corners.
Blood spurted from all seven orifices, a sight most pitiable.
The next moment, he vanished from the competition stage, only to reappear outside of it.
Subsequently, a beam of light from the heavens shone upon him.
A therapist from the academy began treating Ling Zhen.
Lin's recent attack had killed him instantaneously.
Had it not been for the martial arts arena's protective runes, Ling Zhen would have perished, leaving not even a corpse behind.
Did you truly believe Lin would stand idly by, vulnerable to slaughter?
Impossible.
He possessed Bone Armor for defense and Soul Flame for attack.
In single combat, these two abilities sufficed.
Ling Zhen was defeated instantly.
Audience member 310, who had prepared snacks and soda for the spectacle, was astounded.
They had anticipated a thrilling duel, yet this was the outcome?
There was no spectacle to behold; only a brief flash from Lin's palm before Ling Zhen collapsed.
The astonishment was immediate.
This conclusion came too swiftly.
Moreover, what is the nature of Lin's skeletal armor? Its defense seems exceptionally robust, rendering Ling Zhen's seemingly potent spells entirely harmless.
Eventually, Ling Zhen, under the care of a senior therapist, recovered.
His visage was smeared with blood, presenting a ghastly scene.
A profound sense of fear lingered in his eyes.
When Lin's gaze fell upon him, Ling Zhen quaked uncontrollably. "You've lost," Lin stated matter-of-factly.
Only then did Ling Zhen comprehend his defeat.
Yet, his life was spared.
As long as one's life is preserved, all else becomes trivial.
Is it merely a deduction of points?
Once the formation was lifted, Lin stood on the competition stage, his expression unchanged.
The skeletal armor encasing his body persisted, emitting a white glow that lent Lin an even colder demeanor.
Director Qiu ascended the stage and declared Lin the victor.
Then came the tallying of points.
After reviewing Lin's points, Director Qiu couldn't help but express astonishment and cast a profound glance at Lin.
"Student Lin is victorious in this bout. In accordance with the agreement between the two parties, student Ling Zhen is obliged to compensate student Lin 358,000 points," Director Qiu announced the conclusion.
"What!"
Ling Zhen's outcry was immediate, and he sprang up from the ground.
"How can he possess so many points!"
Ling Zhen pointed at Lin, screaming.
358,000 points exceeded his own worth.
"This is inconceivable. He has only been at the academy for a few days."
"There must be an error; this cannot be!"
"Director Qiu, there has to be a mistake; you must be mistaken!" Ling Zhen ranted deliriously.
Director Qiu regarded him with a chilling gaze, "Are you insinuating that I am fabricating this?"
Director Qiu's response felt like a deluge of cold water, snapping Ling Zhen back to reality.
Ling Zhen hastily rebutted, "No, no, that wasn't my intention."
Director Qiu's demeanor darkened, feeling his authority challenged.
Ling Zhen dared to question him, courting death. "Student Ling Zhen, proceed with the payment of points."
Ling Zhen's countenance crumbled, "I lack the necessary points."
Director Qiu operated his communicator, announcing, "You have a total of 128,000 points. I'll transfer your points to Lin first."
"You can either borrow the remaining 230,000 points, or the creditor can hold onto them, to be repaid within half a year."
"You're also expelled from the school. Given your background, I'll personally ensure your family covers the debt."
With that, Director Qiu departed in a huff.
Having served as the director of the Academic Affairs Office at Xia Jing University for years, this marked the first time his authority had been publicly challenged.
Lin received 128,000 points, bringing his total to 486,000, with a debt of 230,000 points pending repayment.
As Lin walked past Ling Zhen, he gave him a brief glance.
Ling Zhen had dug his own grave. His actions since joining the school had made him a target of disdain, and now he faced the consequences. Yet, this was far from the end of their conflict. If they were to encounter each other outside the school...
With the freshmen's opening ceremony concluded, classes were set to begin the following day. The course schedule was fixed, but attendance was left to the students' discretion, as the school imposed no mandates on this front.
On their way back, Xia Xue expressed her curiosity, "How did you become so powerful?"
Lin chuckled, pondering how to respond.
"Could you take me dungeon raiding sometime?" Xia Xue asked.
Lin nodded, indicating their prior cooperation.
Xia Xue was thrilled by Lin's agreement.
Suddenly, Lin's communicator buzzed with a message from Bai Yiyuan, instructing him to prepare for departure to the Yuan battlefield within an hour. Bai Yiyuan was making good on his promise to take him there following the opening ceremony.
Uncertain of the preparations needed, Lin inquired directly, "What should I prepare?"
Bai Shen swiftly replied, "Gold coins. While points have their utility within the school, gold coins are the principal currency outside."
Xia Xue, intrigued, asked, "What's wrong?"
Lin replied, "Bai Shen is taking me to the Yuan battlefield."
Xia Xue, puzzled, wondered, "What's the Yuan battlefield?"
Even she was unaware.
Feng Xiu explained, "The Yuan battlefield is the frontline where our ancestors have battled the abyssal monsters for centuries. It's fraught with peril but also brimming with opportunities for those brave enough to face its challenges."
Lin visited the exchange to liquidate his assets, converting all materials and equipment into over 2 million gold coins. With his newfound wealth, he purchased some basic psychoactive potions, although unable to find the highly sought-after fatigue potions.
Realizing he lacked Shu Han's contact information, Lin felt a twinge of regret. Unable to procure the potion, he acknowledged the need to make a trip to Shu Han for it.
As the hour drew to a close, Bai Yiyuan arrived on schedule, asking, "Are you ready?"
Lin affirmed, prepared with both money and sustenance sufficient for a month, courtesy of Ning Yiyi.
Bai Yiyuan led him to the yard, calling out, "Lao Meng, send us to the Yuan battlefield."
A towering structure materialized in the void—the Shenxia Tower, known for its miraculous properties and the potential for breakthroughs.
Ning Yiyi had emphasized the importance of being well-prepared for the Shenxia Tower, advice Bai Yiyuan echoed, suggesting Lin wait until after his second transformation to attempt a breakthrough.
Heeding Bai Yiyuan's counsel, Lin shelved his plans for the tower until after his next major milestone.
As they activated the tower's teleportation array, their forms vanished, embarking on their journey to the Yuan battlefield.