C20 The Unstoppable Martial Arts of Earth!

Standing in the qualifying area, Lin Xi suddenly raised an eyebrow, astonished to find that most of the gazes were fixed on him.

"Am I really that easy to bully?" Lin Xi mused with a hint of amusement.

"Young Master Lin, you were once such a profligate. Your sudden advancement by two realms, though shocking, has led many to harbor a disbelief they can't shake. They're not the only ones; I find it hard to believe myself. You've become the prime target for a challenge," Lu Hao quipped.

With a bashful smile, Lin Xi replied, "So they choose self-deception because they can't believe it..."

Lu Hao chuckled, unable to refute the point.

"Lin Xi... you must win, or you won't be able to remain in the academy," Su Yan said, looking at Lin Xi with concern from within the crowd. She understood the significance of this test for him.

In the shadows, Princess Jinger subtly nodded to someone in the crowd. Quietly, Hong Yuyu acknowledged her signal. He was the person she had secretly appointed to handle unforeseen events, and Lin Xi's performance had certainly qualified as such.

After a brief lull, a figure emerged from the crowd.

A tall young man approached Lin Xi with confident strides, bowed slightly, and announced loudly, "Lin Xi, I, Hong Yuyu, challenge you!"

Though Hong Yuyu appeared respectful, a flicker of skepticism crossed his eyes as he looked at Lin Xi, betraying an underlying scorn. He couldn't believe that Lin Xi, who had been nothing more than a wastrel and had recently fallen into the Dark Void Abyss, could have truly transformed. Hong Yuyu considered himself a Great Purity Cultivator, albeit one who had kept his abilities concealed. He aligned himself with Princess Jinger, not just for the sake of his family but also due to a subtle admiration he harbored for Prince Jinger.

As the tall youth stepped forward to issue the first challenge, the other unqualified students sighed in disappointment, clearly envious of Hong Yuyu's boldness.

Lin Xi regarded Hong Yuyu with a detached gaze, taking in his stature and demeanor. He might not have been familiar with every young noble, but this particular young man was someone he recognized.

Hong Yuyu is the son of Hong Fangguang, the current patriarch of a prestigious jewelry dynasty within the Celestial Enlightment Empire. The Hong family's jewelry business has spanned several generations, establishing them as aristocrats and a distinguished household within the empire. Indeed, it was this status that secured Hong Yuyu's place at the National Academy, where he has been known to leverage his knowledge of jewelry to create difficulties for Lin Xi. On occasion, he even passed off inferior pieces as top-grade gems, tricking Lin Xi into overpaying, which resulted in significant financial losses for him.

"Money... it'll come around," Lin Xi mused, a hint of a dangerous smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he reminisced about past events.

Turning his head, Lin Xi caught Su Yan's eye, receiving an encouraging glance from her.

With a slight smile and under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Lin Xi nodded and softly declared, "I accept!"

Hong Yuyu's lips twitched involuntarily. Lin Xi's crisp response left him puzzled and with a nagging suspicion that Lin Xi was not going to be easy to handle. However, the thought of defeating Lin Xi and expelling him from the academy—and the glory it would bring him in Princess Jinger's eyes—quickly dispelled his doubts. Lost in thoughts of Princess Jinger's smile, Hong Yuyu felt a surge of determination; he was ready to risk it all for her.

"It's all just wishful thinking. To advance from Clear Qi Level Three to a Great Purity Cultivator in a matter of days is utterly impossible. No one has ever achieved such a feat. He must have picked up some shoddy technique in the Dark Void Abyss to fool us all. I will defeat him!" A glint of cold determination flashed in Hong Yuyu's eyes. He had come prepared, swiftly quelling his anxiety with a scoff, "Then let's see what you're really capable of!"

Lin Xi maintained a serene expression, already plotting to make the Hong family pay dearly for their folly in the future. Little did the unsuspecting Hong Yuyu realize the steep price he would soon pay for his foolishness.

Amidst the onlookers, Lin Xi stepped into the center of the field and gestured for Hong Yuyu to join him.

Watching Lin Xi's composed demeanor, the unease that Hong Yuyu had been holding back began to squirm within him. With a light chuckle, he strode to the center of the field, swift as the breeze.

As the two figures stood at the center of the field, the onlookers' attention swiftly shifted towards them.

Atop the raised platform, the second elder's hand quivered ever so slightly. He was exerting tremendous effort to maintain his composure, yet a hint of nervousness was still evident in his tightly fixed gaze upon the field's center.

To put it precisely, the disbelief at Lin Xi's achievements wasn't exclusive to the young men and women spectating; even he harbored a sense of unreality. This wasn't to say he doubted Lin Xi, but rather, the fact that Lin Xi's Clear Qi Cultivation Level had ascended two realms in mere days was nothing short of miraculous. Such a rapid advancement was rare even within the vast Celestial Enlightment Empire, a feat virtually unparalleled in its history.

The results were so astounding that many found it difficult to accept or even acknowledge for quite some time.

Belief or skepticism aside, once Lin Xi engaged in combat, his true strength would come to light, and everyone would witness the reality of his cultivation prowess.

Beside the second elder, the three elders' breaths quickened, their weathered palms leaving faint impressions on their chairs as they watched the center of the field with eyes full of ancient wisdom.

In the vast expanse of the field, all eyes were intently fixed on the two central figures. Lin Xi's previously demonstrated prodigious performance—whether genuine or not—would soon be revealed with their impending clash.

"It can't possibly be true..." Princess Jinger's eyes glinted with a frosty light as she inwardly seethed.

"Maybe... it's a blend of truth and fiction," Liu Linxiang mused quietly from within the crowd. He found it hard to believe that Lin Xi could have achieved such formidable results after just a few days in the Dark Void Abyss. He had assumed Lin Xi would perish there, but instead, Lin Xi had encountered a stroke of luck. This was something Liu Linxiang found intolerable; rather than sending Lin Xi to his demise, it seemed he had inadvertently aided in Lin Xi's windfall.

Under the scrutiny of many complex stares, Lin Xi and Hong Yuyu completed the pre-duel formalities with a simple exchange of gestures.

Hong Yuyu cast an indifferent glance at Lin Xi and took a deep breath. With his arms crossed over his chest and feet firmly planted on the ground, the Clear Qi within him began to circulate. In an instant, he surged towards Lin Xi like an arrow released from its bow.

As he neared Lin Xi, the aura around him dramatically shifted. Unleashing all his power, he no longer had any reason to conceal his abilities. His only goal was a decisive strike against Lin Xi. To him, revealing his strength and facing condemnation mattered little if it pleased Princess Jinger. He was willing to do anything for her happiness, especially since Lin Xi had previously "dishonored" Princess Jinger, the goddess of his heart.

"Golden Horse Soars into the Sky!" Hong Yuyu's aura whirled as he executed his moves with lightning speed. In a flash, the full extent of his Great Purity Cultivator's strength was on display. Like a wild stallion, he charged at Lin Xi with an unstoppable force.

Should Lin Xi be struck, it would result in severe injury, if not death.

In that moment, the entire scene shifted, and everyone witnessed the true power of Hong Yuyu.

"The Great Purity Cultivator... Hong Yuyu is actually a Great Purity Cultivator. He's been concealing this all along. Who would have thought!" gasps of surprise echoed throughout the arena.

"Despicable... Shameless!" Lu Hao exclaimed, his face twisted in anger as he spat out in disgust.

"Hong Yuyu's true strength... has finally come to light. Well, this is good. Lin Xi will certainly be expelled from the National Academy today. He will no longer have a place there," Princess Jinger remarked nonchalantly, as if discussing a trivial matter.

"Hong Yuyu has kept his abilities well hidden. Unless something unexpected occurs, even if he doesn't pass the test, he could still qualify by challenging Lin Xi. Clearly, he's been biding his time for this moment," Liu Linxiang deduced the situation with clarity.

"I wonder who Hong Yuyu is really working for?" Liu Linxiang mused, his eyes briefly flashing with insight, yet he maintained his composed demeanor.

"Lin Xi…" Su Yan's heart clenched with worry for him.

"Not good…" He sensed a strong sense of danger with the sudden turn of events.

"What's going on here? Third Elder, explain this to me!" Second Elder demanded, his voice filled with anger. He wanted to intervene, but everything unfolded too quickly. Even his attempt to intervene seemed futile. His concern for Lin Xi was palpable, and he silently grieved for Lin Xiong, feeling that Lin Xi's fate was sealed.

"Does the Second Elder suspect me?" Third Elder retorted sharply.

"Enough!" The Great Elder intervened, halting the dispute. Despite being momentarily disoriented by the unexpected crisis, his years of experience soon allowed him to regain composure.

"Only Lin Xi can save himself now," the Great Elder sighed softly.

At the center of the field, Lin Xi sensed Hong Yuyu's imminent strike. A thought sparked a glint of cold determination in his eyes. Reflecting on his survival in the Dark Void Abyss, he was convinced that he wouldn't perish now either.

Lin Xi's mind raced. Unfamiliar with the combat techniques of this world, he decided to employ the martial arts he knew from Earth. He was determined to give it his all.

"Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms!" In the nick of time, Lin Xi recalled the formidable move from a television series he had watched back on Earth. He executed the move instinctively, and to his surprise, it felt eerily familiar.

His palm strikes, fluid like an unending spring rain, bypassed Hong Yuyu's defenses and landed squarely on his shoulder.

"Boom!" The impact resonated across the field, sending figures flying. The wind howled, bodies fell, and dust billowed, engulfing the center of the field.

A profound silence enveloped the arena, so intense that the slightest sound could have been heard. Hearts raced and breaths were held.

As the dust settled, two figures emerged—one standing tall, the other lying on the ground, bloodied.

A wave of noise erupted from the crowd.

Some rejoiced, others despaired.

"Young Master Lin… you've won!" Lu Hao called out exuberantly, his joy seemingly surpassing that of the victor himself as he triumphantly raised his arms.

"Lin Xi has won!" Su Yan whispered excitedly among the crowd.

"No... This can't be!" Princess Jinger was in disbelief as she saw Hong Yuyu lying on the ground, signaling the collapse of her scheme. She glanced at Hong Yuyu with dissatisfaction and quickly averted her gaze.

Witnessing this, Hong Yuyu's heart sank, and he felt a wave of despair. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot, realizing he could no longer remain at the National Academy. He couldn't stay by Princess Jinger's side anymore, as his actions were a clear violation of the academy's rules.

"Lin Xi has won..." someone shouted, though no one knew who.

Following that, a chorus of voices echoed the sentiment. Lin Xi was admired for his forthrightness, in stark contrast to Hong Yuyu, who was known for his cunning and deceit. In a way, Lin Xi's victory over the darkness was a triumph for the academy, a testament to its honor.

"That was a close one..." Lin Xi silently breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't anticipated that his last-ditch effort would actually lead to victory over Hong Yuyu, a fellow Great Purity Cultivator, especially since it had been a surprise attack.

"Earth Martial Arts... are truly unstoppable!" Lin Xi mused to himself, a slight smile gracing his face.

The crowd on the field was convinced of Lin Xi's genuine strength as a Great Purity Cultivator.

Now, everyone believed the incredible feats Lin Xi had previously demonstrated were indeed authentic!

To elevate one's Clear Qi Cultivation Level by two realms in just a few days was nothing short of miraculous!