"Source power... 388!!!"
"A third-tier warrior!"
Even the middle-aged man announcing the results seemed excited. He hadn't expected that Lin San had not only broken through but had reached the peak of the third tier, nearly advancing to the fourth!
As his words echoed, the crowd erupted in shock.
They all turned to look at the Testing Stone, which clearly displayed the number '388'!
"Wasn't Lin San supposed to be unable to break through?"
"How is he almost a fourth-tier warrior now?!"
"He even has a higher source power value than Zhao Xiaoling by seven points!"
"Is Lin San making a strong comeback?!"
The crowd buzzed with disbelief and excitement. The sight of Lin San standing proudly with a smile on his face, after four years of struggle, was simply astounding. With the help of the Demon-Slaying Sword, his strength had surged, bringing him close to the fourth tier!
"He... he recovered!?" Zhang Tiancong's eyes were filled with astonishment.
"This..."
Even Zhang Tiansha, Lin San's former mentor, was stunned. He had never imagined that Lin San would truly break through! A pang of regret stirred in him; though he had once been Lin San's teacher, he had abandoned him when his progress had stalled. Now, seeing Lin San's resurgence, he felt a deep remorse.
"Damn it..." Feng Wuqiong's face darkened as he processed the shocking truth—Lin San was at the peak of the third tier. No wonder Lin San had held his own in their last confrontation, especially with the boost from his mysterious weapon.
"This... this can't be real..." Zhao Xiaoling muttered in disbelief. As Lin San walked back to his spot, she could only stand there in shock.
"Number four, Jiang..."
The testing continued, but now, no one could ignore Lin San. His display had changed everything.
"This test will take all morning," Ye Fan grumbled. Initially entertained, he was now growing bored. The highlight had been watching Lin San prove his doubters wrong, but the routine of the testing had lost its charm. Most of the inner disciples weren't that impressive.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was time for the real sect competition.
"The first place will be awarded a bottle of High-Grade Condensing Pills, a fifth-tier martial technique, and an A-grade weapon."
"The second place..."
The announcement of the rewards made the crowd buzz with excitement. The first-place prize was extraordinary! High-Grade Condensing Pills were extremely valuable, and fifth-tier martial techniques were rare even within the Sky Peak Sect. An A-grade weapon was also incredibly expensive.
"I don't need the A-grade weapon, but the High-Grade Condensing Pills and the fifth-tier technique are something I definitely want," Lin San mused as he listened to the prizes.
The sect competition would involve random pairings until the final four strongest contestants were determined, who would then battle it out for the top prizes.
The large area around the five dueling platforms was now filled with eager spectators. With hundreds of inner disciples participating, the matches would proceed simultaneously to avoid lengthy delays.
"Number three versus number one hundred!"
Soon, Lin San heard his name called. Without hesitation, he leaped onto one of the platforms. The crowd quickly gathered around his platform, curious to see how Lin San would perform now that he had reached the peak of the third tier.
Holding the scabbard in his left hand, Lin San eyed the man standing opposite him.
Feng Wuqiong!
"What a coincidence, running into you so soon," Feng Wuqiong sneered, his expression sour. He hadn't expected to face Lin San so quickly. From their last encounter, he knew Lin San's strength was anything but ordinary.
"You know, in the sect competition, deaths are not held accountable," Feng Wuqiong said, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
"Bring it on," Lin San replied, his eyes narrowing.
Indeed, in the heat of battle, accidents were common, and sometimes deadly. It wasn't unusual for fighters to die on the platform.
"Feng Wuqiong! A fourth-tier warrior! Lin San is doomed!"
Those watching below shook their heads in pity. Feng Wuqiong was a fourth-tier warrior, and while Lin San had reached the peak of the third tier, there was a vast difference between the third and fourth tiers. Fourth-tier warriors had greater power in every aspect and could use more advanced techniques.
"Not necessarily. I feel like Lin San is different this time," someone who had witnessed Lin San's fight with Sun Ran yesterday remarked, now eager to see what Lin San would do next.
"The match... begins!"
As the judge's voice echoed, Feng Wuqiong lunged forward, his dark blue sword gleaming in the light. His speed was incredible!
Lin San's pupils contracted as he swiftly drew his sword.
Whoosh!
The moment the Demon-Slaying Sword was unsheathed, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air.
Clang!
Their swords clashed in a fierce collision.
"This is an A-grade sword," Feng Wuqiong sneered, his confidence boosted by his superior weapon. Unlike last time, he was using a proper A-grade sword, not the B-grade weapon that had been shattered by Lin San.
"There are different grades even within A-grade weapons," Lin San retorted coldly. As he spoke, the Demon-Slaying Sword emitted a powerful sword aura, and golden flames flared up along the blade. By using the Golden Crow Scorching Heaven Art, Lin San could conceal the sword's unique qualities, masking its true power with the golden flames.
After all, Lin San was well aware that possessing something too valuable could attract unwanted attention.