Chapter 255

Lord Lingxiao City!

Since the Hidden Dragon List was promulgated, more martial artists have poured in.

Especially at the Wu Yuan, one can see battles every day, among which there is no lack of geniuses on the Human List of the Hidden Dragon List.

And in the midst of this bustle, several youthful figures were heading toward the city gate.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, are you not staying for a few more days?"

Meng Xing looked at Lin Lin Shixiong, who was wearing a bamboo hat; he didn't understand why Lin Lin Shixiong was leaving at this time.

To say that Lin Lin Shixiong was afraid of being challenged because he was ranked first on the Human List, he did not believe it.

In his view, Lin Lin Shixiong's strength was more than enough to make the Earth List.

If he were Lin Lin Shixiong, he would stay in Lord Lingxiao City and challenge those Earth List geniuses to improve his ranking.

"The three-month exchange period is almost over; I plan to return to Poyang County once, then return to the Canglan Wu Yuan. This way, the timing will be just right."

Lin Chen answered with a smile. According to what Hou Yuanzhang said, he had already refined his five organs through the Lord Lingxiao power and had even condensed his Martial Way Will, so he could not absorb the Lord Lingxiao power for a short time.

As for challenging Earth List martial artists, there is no rush for this moment.

"Lin Lin Shixiong is going back to the Jiangnan Circuit."

Yu Fei had envy on his face; he didn't go back for the New Year this year either, staying at the Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan the whole time.

It's not that he didn't want to go back, but because of Lin Lin Shixiong, Lin Lin Shixiong Meng and the others often called him to practice and spar together, and since Lin Lin Shixiong Meng and the others didn't go back, he felt embarrassed to go back.

"I've been out for more than half a year; I'm going home to take a look."

Lin Chen wants to return to Poyang County, not only to go home to see his father and mother, but also to see his teacher.

He wants to discuss the changes in the nine countries with his teacher.

Whether it is Hou Yuanzhang or Dean Hua, there is still a layer of separation; these two deans consider things more from the perspective of the martial academy, and only the teacher is solely for him.

Some guesses and thoughts in his heart, he cannot ask Hou Yuanzhang and Dean Hua, but he can ask his teacher without reservation.

"Practice hard. With the Hidden Dragon List out, the competition among martial artists of our age in various countries is very fierce. If you haven't made the list, strive to make it; if you have made the list, don't slack off because of it. You must know that above the Human List is the Earth List, and above the Earth List is the Heaven List."

"I will keep Lin Lin Shixiong's teachings in mind."

Meng Xing and the others nodded, and Lin Chen smiled: "Alright, let's stop here."

Just as Lin Chen was saying goodbye to Meng Xing, Yu Fei, and the others, a cold light shot from the direction of the city gate. Lin Chen's eyes condensed, and the moment the cold light shot over, he slapped out with his palm.

Bang!

The sudden change startled many people at the city gate. Everyone looked toward the city gate, where a silver spear was now nailed into the bluestone ground, the tail of the spear trembling incessantly.

"Lin Chen, do you dare to fight me, Gao Mushan?"

A voice rang out. Inside the city gate, a youth wearing black armor was walking alone, reaching out to pull up the spear inserted into the bluestone floor.

Hiss!

Many martial artists who were about to enter or leave the city stopped their steps upon hearing the youth's words.

Some people were still somewhat unfamiliar with the name Gao Mushan and couldn't recall it for a moment, but they had heard of Lin Chen's name.

Even those who had just arrived in Lord Lingxiao City from other countries and didn't know about the two great battles at the Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan, after the Hidden Dragon List appeared, the most attention was paid to the three people who were first on the three lists.

As for the Daliang martial artists, there is no need to say more; from being a model for martial arts students to the battle with the Sihe Wu Yuan and the Chaosheng Wu Yuan not long ago, as well as the battle with the three Yu Beichen brothers three days ago, Lin Chen's fame had completely spread in Daliang.

However, who is Gao Mushan?

"I remember now; Gao Mushan is that Han Kingdom youth who is second on the Human List."

"So, is this a challenge from the second on the Human List to the first on the Human List?"

Gao Mushan's eyes turned cold. The day after the Hidden Dragon List was promulgated and he was ranked second on the Human List, he chose to come to Lord Lingxiao City.

The world will only remember the first; no one remembers the second.

He is not reconciled to this second place, and he is also unconvinced.

He could also defeat the three Yu Beichen brothers.

The martial artists who were about to enter or leave the city were now very excited. In the past few days, several battles from the Hidden Dragon List had broken out in Lord Lingxiao City, but except for one battle on the Earth List, most were battles between those ranked lower on the Human List.

A battle of this level between the first and second on the Human List was appearing for the first time.

Gao Mushan pointed his spear at Lin Chen, who was wearing a bamboo hat: "A dignified first on the Human List, yet still wearing a bamboo hat, not daring to show your true face—are you afraid of being challenged?"

Hearing this, everyone's gaze followed toward Lin Chen's direction, and many people also had looks of confusion on their faces.

Once the Hidden Dragon List is out, being able to make the list is an honor.

Logically speaking, there is indeed no need to wear a bamboo hat to hide one's identity.

Unless this Lin Chen is truly as Gao Mushan said, afraid of being challenged by others.

"What a joke; Lin Lin Shixiong would be afraid of a challenge? It's just that he's afraid of trouble."

Yu Fei immediately retorted, and Meng Xing and the others on the side also had looks of anger on their faces. Gao Mushan had a mocking smile on the corner of his mouth, and the spear tip pointed at Lin Chen again: "What, still unwilling to take off the bamboo hat?"

"As you wish."

Lin Chen took off the bamboo hat, revealing his true face, and many martial artists at the scene were once again stirred up upon seeing Lin Chen's true face.

"It really is Lin Lin Shixiong."

"That's right; I was there during that battle at the Wu Yuan, and it really is Lin Lin Shixiong."

Gao Mushan watched Lin Chen take off the bamboo hat, a deep blue luster exploding in his eyes. Meng Xing, who was on the side, saw this scene and whispered: "Lin Lin Shixiong, this person practices the 'Xuanming Xuanming Bingpo Jue' unique to the Han Kingdom, which can convert energy into extreme cold aura. Once scratched, it will affect the speed of blood circulation."

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly; he only knew that the Han Kingdom's strength was the most powerful among the nine countries, but he really didn't know that the Han Kingdom's martial arts had such special features.

So, is this the confidence the other party has in challenging him?

"Let the two of us go to the Wu Yuan for a battle."

Lin Chen shook his head: "No need."

Once these words were spoken, the scene was in an uproar. The onlookers didn't understand what Lin Chen meant; was he not planning to accept Gao Mushan's challenge?

But the Wu Yuan has a rule: those who meet the challenge requirements and challenge someone ranked higher than themselves, if the challenged party refuses the challenge without a reasonable excuse, it is equivalent to admitting defeat.

Could it be that Lin Chen wants to hand over the first place?

At this moment, on a cruise ship at the pier, several figures were standing on the deck, their gazes also looking toward the city gate not far away.

"It seems this Lin Chen wants to delay."

"The Wu Yuan giving Lin Chen first on the Human List is inherently unfair. Before Lin Chen defeated Yu Beichen, he was only at two Organ Cultivation points; it was just because the result of that battle shocked many people. If the Hidden Dragon List had been extended by another month, the first place would still be Lin Lin Shidi Gao's."

On the deck, a youth wearing blue clothes hummed softly. In the eyes of their Han Kingdom martial artists, Lin Chen being able to become first on the Human List was just taking advantage of the influence brought by that battle with Yu Beichen.

By contrast, Lin Lin Shidi Gao has always stayed in the Han Kingdom and has not experienced any major battles, so his fame is not as good as Lin Chen's.

But their Han Kingdom martial artists are all like this, rarely walking in other countries—not because they don't want to, but because they disdain it.

The martial arts of the nine countries have always been led by their Han Kingdom.

As long as one is first among their peers in the country, that is first in the nine countries, and this time the rankings on the Heaven List and Earth List of the Hidden Dragon List also verified this point.

Lin Lin Shidi Gao coming to Daliang this time is to take back the first place on the Human List and prove to the other eight countries that the Heaven, Earth, and Human lists will all be under the rule of the Han Kingdom.

"What, afraid to compete with me?" Listening to the noisy discussions around him, Gao Mushan also hooked a mocking smile.

Before Lin Chen could answer, three figures rushed over from inside the city gate.

"Those who disturb the order of Lord Lingxiao City will be arrested without exception!"

The Black Armor Guards appeared, and the surrounding onlookers hurriedly retreated a bit.

The shadow of a tree and the name of a person; the Black Armor Guards of Lord Lingxiao City are notoriously strict. Once targeted by the Black Armor Guards, one would have to peel a layer of skin even if they didn't die.

The three Black Armor Guards only glanced at Lin Chen, and their gazes fell on Gao Mushan.

"Haha, is this the intention of your Daliang? Afraid that Lin Chen's ranking will drop, so you are stopping my sparring with Lin Chen?"

Gao Mushan suddenly burst into loud laughter: "Also, for Daliang, having a first on the Human List is already very satisfying; naturally, they want to keep this honor for a while longer."

Hearing Gao Mushan's words, Meng Xing and the others had looks of anger on their faces, and Yu Fei scolded directly: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

The leader of the three Black Armor Guards had a sunken expression: "The Black Armor Guards only act according to the rules; no one is allowed to violate them."

"What a 'no one is allowed to violate'! Forget it, you can hide today, but you can't hide tomorrow; I don't believe you, Lin Chen, can keep hiding and not come out."

Gao Mushan shook his head, carrying his spear and about to leave, the disdain on his face fully exposed.

"I think you seem to have misunderstood."

Gao Mushan turned back, his gaze fixed on Lin Chen.

"The meaning of 'no need' is that you are not yet worth me making a trip to the Wu Yuan."

Lin Chen said lightly, and after speaking, he looked at the three Black Armor Guards: "Three Senior Brothers, may I ask if this Lin Lin Shidi can take action here?"

The Black Armor Guard man who spoke earlier looked deeply at Lin Chen: "Destroying a single brick or tile of Lord Lingxiao City, including the floor, will face punishment..."

"I will pay the money for this punishment!"

Gao Mushan directly interrupted the Black Armor Guard's words and looked at Lin Chen: "Since you want to take action here, I will fulfill your wish!"

In Gao Mushan's heart, he still believed that Lin Chen was just deliberately finding excuses, and now he would cut off all of Lin Chen's excuses.

"Good!"

Lin Chen agreed. Since someone is helping to pay the fine and even delivering themselves to be beaten, he has nothing to say.

The onlookers, upon hearing this dialogue between the two, all had looks of excitement; they were about to see the battle between the first and second on the Human List.

This battle was bound to be incredibly wonderful.

"Come on."

Gao Mushan pointed his spear at Lin Chen, his body emitting a sharp cold aura, and the spear tip even had frost slowly condensing.

Lin Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

"What, not using that bow and arrow of yours?"

"For you, it's not needed."

Hearing Lin Chen's words, a fierce look flashed in Gao Mushan's eyes: "I hope you can continue to be this arrogant in a moment."

Gao Mushan's spear cold light surged, and the frost condensed on the spear tip suddenly turned into frost and snow filling the sky. The onlookers retreated three yards, and the bluestone floor was even covered with a thin layer of ice as the extreme cold aura swept past.

"Lin Lin Shidi Gao's Xuanming Xuanming Bingpo Jue has already been practiced to perfection. With the spear forged from cold iron in his hand, he can increase his strength by thirty percent. This Lin Chen will undoubtedly lose if he doesn't use that bow and arrow."

"I heard that this Lin Chen's blood energy is extremely powerful; I think he is relying on his vigorous blood energy and is not afraid of the extreme cold aura."

"Hmph, just a frog in a well!"

On the deck, several youths had disdain for Lin Chen in their eyes.

They had never seen a martial artist whose blood energy could be so vigorous that it was unaffected by the extreme cold aura.

Swish!

Gao Mushan moved, the spear shadow carrying bone-chilling coldness straight toward Lin Chen.

And at this moment, Lin Chen's blood energy boiled, his true blood surging between his five organs like a river. His feet did not move at all, and his right palm glowed with a golden luster, slapping out fiercely toward Gao Mushan's spear tip.

"Seeking death!"

Seeing Lin Chen's move, Gao Mushan also had anger in his eyes. Lin Chen actually dared to underestimate him like this; he would make Lin Chen pay the price.

The cold aura on the spear tip surged again; with this spear, he would pierce through Lin Chen's palm.

Before the spear tip and palm collided, the men on the deck suddenly exclaimed.

"This is impossible!"

The three Black Armor Guards closest to them also had brilliant light in their eyes at this moment.

In their eyes, Lin Chen's palm had not yet collided with the spear tip, but the palm wind arrived first, and the frost on Gao Mushan's spear tip instantly vaporized into mist!

Bang!

With a loud bang, Gao Mushan retreated several steps, the web between his thumb and forefinger cracked, and the spear tip was actually shaken and rolled back by Lin Chen's palm.

"This is impossible!"

Gao Mushan roared, ignoring the injury on his hand, and spun to stab again, the aura this time actually turning into cold mist and surging toward Lin Chen.

Golden light surged in Lin Chen's eyes, and he ignored the cold mist entirely. His left hand hooked the spear tip like taking something from a bag, and the next moment his five fingers closed fiercely. This spear forged from cold iron, which Gao Mushan was proud of, twisted and deformed under Lin Chen's palm power, presenting an exaggerated degree of bending.

Gao Mushan's pupils shrank, wanting to continue exerting force, but accompanied by a slight dragon-like roar of blood energy, the spear exploded, and the residual energy shook Gao Mushan, sending him flying dozens of yards and crashing heavily into the city wall.

The crowd of onlookers was silent, and there was still frost condensed from the cold mist on the ground, refracting rainbows in the sunlight.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the figure standing in the field, the figure whose whole body was illuminated by the sunlight with a faint golden radiance, his hair not even stained with half a bit of frost and snow.

"This... how is this possible?"

Under the city wall, Gao Mushan struggled to stand up. Why was Lin Chen unaffected by any cold aura?

Why could Lin Chen's physical body shatter his spear?

Lin Chen's expression was calm. What about the Xuanming Xuanming Bingpo Jue?

His own blood energy was far beyond that of ordinary martial artists, and he had absorbed the Lord Lingxiao power, which is the power of the rising sun, the most Yang power in the world. It would be strange if he were invaded by cold aura.

As for why he could destroy Gao Mushan's spear, one cold and one hot, the intersection of two energies—it would be strange if the spear didn't shatter.

On the deck, several men fell into silence.

The more they had mocked Lin Chen earlier, the more awkward they felt now.

"Below the Ranked Tier, he is the true first; no one on the Human List can shake his ranking."

Finally, a youth on the deck spoke slowly: "My Zhao Kingdom cannot, and your Han Kingdom cannot either."

Although the two Han Kingdom youths on the deck did not want to admit it, they could not find any excuse to refute it.

"Then let him be arrogant for a while, and we will talk after he enters the Ranked Tier."

(End of chapter)