Chapter 314: Three Arrows Defeat the Enemy—Who in the World Doesn

The long blade gleamed with icy sharpness.

A wild wind howled across the entire arena.

The blue stone floor rippled with strange waves; Ling Ling Tianhao stood thirty zhang away, his blade qi and frigid energy continuously slicing through the air.

"Lin Chen, I must admit your strength exceeded my expectations—but this ends here. I'll show you the gap between fifth and seventh on the Heavenly List."

Ling Ling Tianhao's gaze was icy, yet Lin Chen's expression remained unchanged as he drew his bowstring once more.

Whoosh!

The moment Lin Chen drew his bow, the crowd erupted in uproar.

"Facing Brother Ling, he still chose the bow?"

The disciples from Han Guo Wu Yuan stared in disbelief—bows only surpassed other weapons in power when the user held a crushing advantage.

This Lin Chen either didn't take Brother Ling seriously, or in his eyes, Brother Ling was no different from the Zhao disciple just killed.

"Is our brother-in-law really this arrogant?"

Elder Murong Xin blinked, choosing the bow against Ling Ling Tianhao?

"Lin Chen must have his reasons."

Elder Murong Yan's eyes gleamed with intrigue; she didn't think Lin Chen was arrogant—if he chose the bow, there was a reason.

On the arena, seeing Lin Chen still draw his bow against him, Ling Ling Tianhao's expression turned bitterly cold—this was an insult, a dismissal.

"Lin Chen, you'll pay for your arrogance!"

Boom!

Ling Ling Tianhao swung his blade, unleashing countless chilling blade qi that surged like a net of knives toward Lin Chen.

"Heavenly Net, Earthly Web!"

The blade qi coalesced into a formation, its frosty radiance flaring violently.

Yet facing Ling Ling Tianhao's terrifying strike, Lin Chen's expression remained calm as still water; at that moment, he drew the Long Yinggong to its full extent.

A dragon's roar reverberated across the arena; the referee standing on the platform flickered with surprise.

He sensed a powerful blood qi within the bow—this was a bowstring forged from the sinew of a jiao dragon; drawing it to resonate with the dragon's cry demanded extreme strength.

"Lin Chen's strength must have reached the upper limit of a low-grade martialist."

As the middle-aged referee murmured inwardly, Lin Chen's right hand snapped—the bowstring trembled, and a streak of golden light tore through the sky.

The arrow, wrapped in the dragon's roar, ripped clean through the blade net!

Ling Ling Tianhao's pupils shrank sharply; his blade qi tide melted like snow before a blazing sun.

His pride, his ultimate technique—"Heavenly Net, Earthly Web"—had been shattered by a single arrow.

On the stands, many Yan Guo nobles who had been seated now leapt to their feet.

These nobles, all mid-grade martialists, had been startled by Lin Chen and Ling Ling Tianhao's earlier displays—but nothing had made them rise until now; this arrow left them no choice but to stand.

"Three arrows couldn't defeat you, I admit defeat. This is the second arrow."

Lin Chen's voice rang like thunder; under every eye, he loosed his second arrow.

Hearing this, Ling Ling Tianhao's eyes blazed with fury; he roared, and layers of ice crystallized instantly around him, forming a suit of armor.

Boom!

The moment the golden arrow struck the ice armor, ice shards exploded like falling stars; his chestplate shattered, and his stumbling retreat left footprints sunk half an inch into the stone.

A metallic taste surged in his throat; blood spilled from his lips.

Whoosh!

Everyone in the crowd, especially Han Guo Wu Yuan disciples, couldn't help but cry out in shock.

They couldn't believe their eyes—Lin Chen's first arrow shattered Brother Ling's full-power strike, and now his second arrow had broken through Brother Ling's defense.

The superiority was absolute!

The gap between Brother Ling and Lin Chen was this vast.

Bian Bian Xinjie's right hand clenched tightly beneath his sleeve, his eyes locked on Lin Chen.

"Third arrow."

Lin Chen's expression didn't change, but as he drew his bow this time, a faint smirk curled his lips; by nature, whether in the Poyang County martial hall or later county duels, he never revealed his full strength—just enough to win.

But now, against Ling Ling Tianhao, he revealed his true potential for the first time.

Not only because of the "Great Liang Light," but to declare to all nine nations: Liang martialists were never inferior to Han's.

In Liang's northern frontier, Liang's elder martialists had sacrificed themselves for peace; his strength couldn't decide the battlefield, but he could break the deadlock elsewhere for Liang.

Shhh!

The instant the golden arrow flew, Ling Ling Tianhao's face turned ashen—he felt death's threat for the first time; this arrow, he could not block!

"I yield!"

Ling Ling Tianhao screamed, retreating frantically; as he reached the arena's edge, the arrow struck, exploding before him—its shockwave tore off his ornate hairpin, flinging him off the platform, disheveled and wild-haired, stripped of all dignity as a Heavenly List prodigy.

The crowd fell utterly silent.

Even the referee stood frozen; from the moment Lin Chen drew his bow, he'd sensed Lin Chen would win—but not this swiftly.

Three arrows forced a Heavenly List fifth-ranked prodigy to yield.

After a deep breath, the referee announced: "Canglan Wu Yuan wins!"

The voice ignited the entire arena, jolting the stunned martialists awake.

Liang's side erupted in thunderous cheers; Han's side remained silent; the other nations cheered, gasped, or fell quiet.

In martial arts, strength speaks.

These martialists didn't care about Liang's or Han's rivalry—only strength could earn their true respect.

And Lin Chen's displayed strength had already won them over.

The cheers had nothing to do with nations.

They were reverence for a supreme prodigy.

After this battle, Lin Chen's name would echo across all nine nations.

"Liang's greatest talent in three hundred years… no—this is the first genius in nine nations in five hundred years."

Elder Murong Song murmured, while Hou Hou Zhan Tian's unreserved, booming laughter rang through the crowd: "Elder Murong, you flatter him too much—Lin Chen still has many shortcomings."

Shhh!

Other nations' elites heard this and stared at Hou Hou Zhan Tian in disbelief—you'd be humble, then don't laugh so loudly.

Yet these elites understood Hou Hou Zhan Tian's joy—if their own nation had such a prodigy, they'd laugh even louder.

To Hou Hou Zhan Tian's laughter, the other nations felt only envy; but to Lu Lu Qiguang's eyes, it was unbearable—he stared at the figure on the arena, his old eyes brimming with boundless killing intent.

The next instant, Lu Lu Qiguang felt a spiritual aura lock onto him; without turning, he knew Elder Murong Zheng had sensed his killing intent—a warning to stay still.

"What is Yan's imperial family planning?"

Lu Lu Qiguang was puzzled—even if he suddenly killed Lin Chen, Liang wouldn't truly go to war with Yan; the grudge was with Han alone.

Yan need only stay out of it.

Between Liang and Han, he didn't believe Yan's imperial family didn't know how to choose—where did they get the nerve to interfere with Han's actions?

…

…

"When Lin Lin Shixiong became Liang's martial academy role model, I recall someone once said, 'Who in the world doesn't know you?' Back then, Lin Lin Shixiong's name spread only through Liang—but from today, the world is all nine nations."

Meng Xing drew a deep breath, gripping Kong Qing's arm tightly.

"Meng, you're excited, but why are you grabbing my arm?"

Kong Qing stared at the handprint on his arm, dumbfounded—he'd shouted loudly the moment Lin Chen's third arrow blasted Ling Ling Tianhao off the arena.

He'd blurted out Liang's unique exclamations, and beside him, Meng had suddenly grabbed his arm, his grip so strong his arm still ached.

"Brother Kong, sorry."

Meng Xing released his grip—he wanted to roar like Kong Qing, to unleash Liang's own battle cries.

But Meng family rules forbade it; he could only vent his excitement through Kong Qing's arm.

…

…

From Han Guo Wu Yuan's side, Ling Ling Tianhao descended the arena, face dark as ink, head bowed, avoiding his fellow disciples' eyes.

He, the Heavenly List fifth-ranked, had been felled by three arrows—this was his greatest humiliation.

Now he understood—he'd fallen for Lin Chen's scheme.

Lin Chen's first arrow had stunned him, and his words, "If three arrows don't defeat you, I yield," made him assume each arrow grew stronger.

But in truth, Lin Chen's third arrow was weaker than the first two—the first two were already his limit; had Ling Ling Tianhao blocked the third with full strength, he'd have only been injured.

But he was afraid.

On the arena, Lin Chen's lips curled in mockery—his third arrow's power truly didn't surpass the first two.

But archery has never been about raw power alone.

Since he began training in archery, especially in the Fearful Death Arrow technique, his master had told him: archery tests not just strength, but psychological warfare.

Ling Ling Tianhao was a Han prodigy, a Heavenly List fifth-ranked martialist.

Such men cherished their lives.

Lin Chen's first two arrows had already shaken him, thrown him off balance; facing the third, he'd automatically recall Lin Chen's words and assume it was even stronger.

Men like him, who prioritize survival above all, will follow their instinct in life-or-death moments and choose what benefits them most.

From the moment he drew his first bow, he'd already begun his psychological battle with Ling Ling Tianhao.

He deliberately waited until after firing his first arrow to speak, aiming to pressure Ling Ling Tianhao psychologically in his moment of shock, leaving him no time to think—only to act on instinct.

"Who's next?"

Lin Chen's gaze turned toward the Tianque Wu Academy disciples, but under his scrutiny, they all averted their eyes, refusing to meet his gaze.

Even Lin Lin Shixiong Ling couldn't withstand Lin Chen's three arrows; if we go up, we'll only be throwing our lives away.

The only one still capable of facing Lin Chen is Lin Lin Shixiong Bian.

All Tianque Wu Academy disciples, along with disciples from other nations present, now fixed their eyes on Bian Bian Xinjie.

Though this match between Tianque Wu Academy and Canglan Wu Academy appears to have several rounds left, only one duel will decide the victor.

The duel between Bian Bian Xinjie and Lin Chen.

Whoever wins represents their academy's victory.

If Lin Chen wins, Canglan Wu Academy wins.

If Bian Bian Xinjie wins, Tianque Wu Academy wins.

Both men possess the strength to fight multiple opponents in succession.

Bian Bian Xinjie now slowly stepped onto the arena, and as his foot touched the platform, silence fell once more over the crowd.

The third-ranked on the Heavenly List and the seventh-ranked on the Heavenly List…

No, correction—he's now fifth on the Heavenly List.

"Lin Chen is probably more than fifth on the Heavenly List. After all, he defeated Ling Ling Tianhao with just three arrows. Saying he's third on the Heavenly List wouldn't be wrong."

When a warrior in the stands spoke these words, those nearby found they had no objection—on the contrary, they wholeheartedly agreed.

Now, even they no longer believed Bian Bian Xinjie held a clear advantage.

Could Bian Bian Xinjie defeat Ling Ling Tianhao in three strikes?

Many warriors present were ranked on the Potential Dragon List; putting themselves in his place, they knew they couldn't defeat an opponent just a few ranks below them in three strikes.

Even if the gap between ranks on the Heavenly List is larger, it shouldn't be this extreme.

"If Lin Chen defeats Bian Bian Xinjie today, we'll witness the fastest rise ever recorded on the Potential Dragon List."

One warrior suddenly recalled that before the rankings began, Lin Chen was merely first on the Earth List—or just three days earlier, eighth on the Earth List.

In just four days, he rose from eighth on the Earth List to third on the Heavenly List…

This shattered the fastest ascent record since the Potential Dragon List's inception. Though the list had existed for less than a year, it was obvious this record would stand unchallenged for decades to come.

…

On the arena, Bian Bian Xinjie lifted his gaze to Lin Chen: "I won't waste words. You've truly surprised me—but it's only because of your weapon's power."

Bian Bian Xinjie glanced at the Long Yinggong in Lin Chen's hand, then pulled a white pearl from his robe.

"This is the Sealed Demon Pearl. Under its influence, your bowstring—forged from dragon sinew—will lose all its power."

Shhh!

Bian Bian Xinjie crushed the pearl with his right hand. Frost spread visibly across the arena floor, coating the entire platform within a single breath.

Lin Chen felt the Long Yinggong tremble in his grip—but then it fell still.

The dragon's power within the Long Yinggong had been sealed.

"It seems you've studied me thoroughly."

Lin Chen sheathed the Long Yinggong. He had once defeated the Bei Chen brothers with three arrows in Lord Lingxiao City—something the Han Kingdom had observed. This Sealed Demon Pearl was made specifically for him.

He had underestimated the Han Kingdom. Even before today, when he was merely Earth List caliber, the Han Kingdom had prepared fully for him. No wonder they could outmaneuver the other eight nations and remain atop the Nine Kingdoms.

"Even a lion must give its all when hunting a rabbit."

Bian Bian Xinjie smiled slightly: "Without your bow, what else do you have?"

Bian Bian Xinjie didn't voice the truth: this pearl wasn't just for Lin Chen—it was also meant to counter the Zheng Kingdom's interference.

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(End of Chapter)