Chapter 42: First Battle in the Arena (Happy New Year)

Arena field.

Lin Chen's arrival caused no ripples at the scene.

Of the twelve arenas, except for the last five which were empty, martial artists were dueling on the others.

But the one attracting the most spectators was the third arena.

The number of spectators could be said to be several times that of the other arenas. The two martial artists fighting on this arena were both wearing masks, and the reason his gaze was attracted was that one of them was using the Water Cloud Palm.

Was it some Jiang Jiang Shijie from the Jingshui Martial Hall?

Although this martial artist using the Water Cloud Palm was wearing a green-faced, fanged ghost mask, the difference in body shape between men and women was still there. Coupled with the fact that she was using the Water Cloud Palm, Lin Chen estimated it should be some Jiang Jiang Shijie from the Martial Hall.

He saw this Jiang Jiang Shijie's Water Cloud Palm flowing like clouds and water; almost only palm shadows could be seen on the entire arena. Her opponent was forced to constantly parry and was finally forced to the point of no retreat, falling off the arena.

"This one is quite powerful, defeating four in a row."

"This person's Water Cloud Palm has already been practiced to Mastery, opening six acupoints. She should be a student who has stayed in the Martial Hall for more than two years, not one of those famous students of the Martial Hall."

The watching martial artists were guessing the identity of the female martial artist with the green-faced, fanged mask. Lin Chen listened to the analysis and also felt these guesses were reliable.

The top Senior Sisters from the previous batch in the Martial Hall had all opened at least twelve acupoints; their realms didn't match.

Excluding those famous Senior Sisters from the previous batch, if one were to say she was a new student, the only one in the entire Martial Hall whose realm matched was Jiang Jiang Shijie, but Jiang Jiang Shijie's Water Cloud Palm shouldn't have reached the Mastery stage, right?

Proficiency in martial techniques could be caught up with time. As long as one's comprehension wasn't extremely poor and one was willing to spend time and energy on it, it was possible to practice the Water Cloud Palm to Mastery within a year.

This Jiang Jiang Shijie wearing a mask should be an old student of the Martial Hall.

If she had already left the Martial Hall, she generally wouldn't wear a mask to cover her true face.

Seeing this Jiang Jiang Shijie defeat her opponent and sit on the side to rest, Lin Chen withdrew his gaze. His purpose in coming to the Wu Yuan arena field wasn't to watch the battle.

There were only two purposes for coming here: the first was to increase real combat experience, and the second was to aim for the ten-tael silver prize for the Arena Master.

The first arena had just finished a battle.

Lin Chen walked to the referee's station below the arena and showed his Wu Yuan identity badge.

The referee was a middle-aged man with a few strands of white hair on his head. Lin Chen understood that this person should be over forty, and his Qi and blood were beginning to decline.

White hair was a sign of declining Qi and blood.

"One to two acupoints can go on the arena. If there is any deception, the qualification will be revoked, and you will never be allowed to step into the Wu Yuan for life."

"Thank you, Senior, for informing me."

Although the other party's Qi and blood were declining, Lin Chen didn't dare to underestimate him. Not to mention that the Wu Yuan stood behind him, even if there was a decline, it was a process.

At least with his current self, he shouldn't be the other party's opponent.

Lin Chen registered his identity code and walked onto the first arena. Not long after he got on the stage, the one who had won previously came again.

A young man in his twenties saw Lin Chen and had a cold sneer on his face: "Another greenhorn from a Martial Hall. I'll defeat you in ten moves."

"Please."

Lin Chen didn't say much. The other party looked twenty-five or twenty-six, yet had only opened two acupoints; his achievements on the Martial Way were just so-so, and there was obvious hostility toward Martial Hall disciples in his words.

It was very likely that he was a martial artist who hadn't been able to enter a Martial Hall, or was at the bottom of a Martial Hall. Such people, to put it bluntly, had extreme jealousy.

However, Lin Chen didn't underestimate the other party because of this. At this person's age, he had been practicing martial arts for at least seven or eight years. As long as he wasn't an idiot, his proficiency in techniques would definitely not be low.

Wu Bin gave a cold hum, his legs bent and stretched like a goshawk in a storm, instantly exploding. With one leap, he was in front of Lin Chen, his right leg sweeping across with a whistling sound, striking straight at a vital point.

Lin Chen's figure moved slightly, like a breeze in the forest. Facing Wu Bin's sweeping posture, he retreated a few steps.

"You don't even dare to clash head-on with me, yet you dare to get on the stage!"

Seeing Lin Chen retreat, Wu Bin's eyes were full of disdain, and his offensive accelerated again. Every kick was full of viciousness and impatience; he wanted to defeat Lin Chen in ten moves.

After retreating several times, the edge of the arena was behind him, but Lin Chen didn't panic. He hadn't seen the leg technique this person was using, but after a few moves, he had grasped some of its foundations.

Defeating himself in ten moves was because this person's leg technique followed a swift and fierce route. Although the offensive was still fierce, its accuracy had already declined.

"You only know how to dodge? Are all Martial Hall disciples such cowardly people? Since you're cowardly, why get on the arena? Go back to your Martial Hall and play house with your fellow brothers."

Seeing that Lin Chen could dodge his attacks every time, Wu Bin felt a bit anxious and began to mock him.

"As you wish."

Lin Chen whispered. Taking advantage of Wu Bin's kick, before the residual force was recovered, his figure moved to the side, easily avoiding it. But immediately following that, he struck back with a palm. The essence of the Qingfeng Palm was displayed vividly by him.

The palm was like a breeze, and the person followed the palm. This palm landed precisely on Wu Bin's chest.

Slap!

The powerful palm wind made Wu Bin retreat repeatedly, and Lin Chen didn't give Wu Bin a chance to catch his breath. His figure flashed, and he was in front of Wu Bin again, landing several palms in succession.

Wu Bin was good at leg techniques, but after being closed in on by Lin Chen, his legs couldn't exert any strength at all and he could only panic and wave his fists to resist.

Crack!

In the collision between palm and fist, Wu Bin's eyes widened. At this moment, he only felt that the bones in his entire hand had been shaken out of place.

Take advantage of his illness to take his life!

If it were a duel in the Martial Hall or sparring with Lu Yongfeng and the others, Lin Chen would have stopped at this time, but facing this guy in front of him, he didn't intend to stop.

Arena rules: unless one party actively admits defeat or falls off the arena, it doesn't count as the end.

Three palms landed in succession!

Wu Bin was directly blasted off the arena and fell to the ground.

Originally, the first arena wasn't eye-catching, but as Wu Bin landed with a bang, many people's eyes looked over.

The first arena, fighting so fiercely?

"Wu Bin actually lost. This shouldn't be a new student from the Qingfeng Martial Hall, right? An old student?"

Wu Bin still had some fame in the arena field and was known as the gatekeeper of the first arena.

Having practiced martial arts for ten years, although his realm wasn't high, his proficiency in techniques was definitely not something that new students from major Martial Halls could compare to.

"Even if it's a student from the previous batch, being able to defeat Wu Bin is considered okay."

"Better than some, worse than others. I suppose it's an old student who has been practicing techniques bitterly in the Martial Hall."

Most of the martial artists watching were from ordinary backgrounds. To have their current realm, they relied more on time to grind it out.

Wu Bin climbed up from the ground, his eyes full of resentment as he stared fiercely at Lin Chen. After a long while, he turned and left unwillingly.

Lin Chen didn't get off the arena to rest. He hadn't used his full strength against Wu Bin, so there was no need to rest.

After the first battle, Lin Chen also discovered the difference between the Wu Yuan arena and the duels between Martial Hall students: the battles here were more real and more cruel.

But it was precisely such battles that made his blood boil. A martial artist should have such a real contest. The loser not only fails but is also likely to be injured.

New year, new beginning. Asking for a monthly vote for reading along isn't too much, right?





(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 43 =====