84: Chapter 84 The Champion

However, Lin Yao soon became excited.

Because seven or eight years ago, Hu Nan had actually pursued Lin Yao.

Only at that time, Lin Yao didn't think much of him at all.

Now that Hu Nan had erupted with such powerful strength, she could completely give Hu Nan a chance to pursue her.

High atop the platform, Sect Leader Xuanyangzi stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock, and his tone carried a hint of disbelief: "This... how is this possible? Perfection Gale Sword Technique? This boy actually hid such strong power!"

Lin Zhentian stood up suddenly, his expression terrifyingly gloomy.

Just moments ago, he had said Hu Nan was overestimating himself and was no match for Lin Hao at all.

He had always believed Lin Hao would be the champion.

In order to get his son, Lin Hao, a good seed in the brackets,

he had even bribed the drawing referee.

But he never expected that his son, Lin Hao, would actually be defeated by an unknown contestant?

Where was he supposed to hide his face after this?

Lin Zhentian also loathed that deacon to death.

If that deacon hadn't arranged for Hu Nan to be there, how could his son have suffered such a crushing defeat?

At the same time, Lin Zhentian also hated Hu Nan intensely.

He hadn't expected Hu Nan to strike so heavily, actually leaving his son Lin Hao seriously injured.

However, Lin Zhentian couldn't easily lash out.

After all, this was during the Sect Competition.

But once the competition ended, he would have plenty of time to slowly deal with Hu Nan.

On the arena, Hu Nan slowly sheathed his black wind sword, his face expressionless, as if the person who had just severely wounded Lin Hao with one move and kicked him off the arena wasn't him.

He stood quietly on the arena, his calm gaze sweeping over the shocked crowd below, without the slightest bit of ostentation or pride.

It took a good while before a Disciple finally reacted, letting out a low cry of surprise that broke the dead silence of the entire venue.

"My god! Hu Nan actually really defeated Lin Hao! And it was a victory in a single move!"

"Was that the Gale Sword Technique just now?"

"That was at least at the Perfection level of the Gale Sword Technique!"

"It seems Hu Nan's cultivation is at Level 10 Qi Refining Stage!"

"Just how did he Cultivate?"

Immediately after, the entire Martial Arts Square erupted into an even more intense uproar. Discussions, gasps of admiration, and shouts of disbelief intertwined, echoing through the clouds, more boisterous than ever before.

Zhang Han continued to stare fixedly at Hu Nan on the arena, the shock on his face not fading for a long time. He shook his head, still unable to believe this was real.

The Hu Nan he had always looked down upon and felt was cowardly and incompetent had actually created a miracle and defeated the overbearing Lin Hao.

"Is there anyone else coming up to the arena?" Hu Nan looked toward the crowd below.

"I'll challenge you!" A Cultivator stepped out from the crowd.

This Cultivator was named Zhao Lei. He wasn't particularly prominent among the Inner Sect Disciples. Although his cultivation had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, he had always been suppressed by Lin Hao. He had originally thought that the position of Arena Lord for the No. 13 Martial Arts Arena would surely be Lin Hao's for the taking, and he would have no chance to compete, only able to wait silently and watch for changes.

But Hu Nan's appearance broke all his expectations and gave him hope of seizing the Arena Lord title.

In Zhao Lei's view, Lin Hao was definitely not truly inferior to Hu Nan. It must have been a moment of carelessness, an accidental opening that allowed Hu Nan's sneak attack to succeed.

After all, Lin Hao was the Eldest Senior Brother; how could he really be defeated in one move?

Hu Nan was just lucky, having exploited the gap left by Lin Hao's negligence.

A flash of spiritual light appeared beneath Zhao Lei's feet as he leaped up, landing steadily on the No. 13 Martial Arts Arena. Facing Hu Nan from a distance, the Spiritual Qi of his level nine Qi Refining spread out wantonly, his Pressure enveloping the arena.

"Lin Hao was just momentarily careless and was caught by your sneak attack. Do you really think you're that powerful? Today, I'll test you and take this No. 13 Martial Arts Arena Lord position!"

As his voice fell, a low murmur of discussion came from below the arena.

Many Disciples nodded in agreement. In their view, what Zhao Lei said made quite a bit of sense. Lin Hao was so powerful that his crushing defeat must have been an accident. Hu Nan likely won by luck and didn't necessarily have the strength to truly defeat Lin Hao.

Zhang Han instantly believed Zhao Lei's words!

After all, in Zhang Han's perception, Hu Nan couldn't even compare to him, so how could he defeat the Eldest Lin Hao?

It must have been Hu Nan taking advantage of Lin Hao's inattention to land a sneak attack and win by sheer luck.

On the arena, Hu Nan's expression didn't change at all upon hearing this. He gave Zhao Lei a faint glance without any extra words, as if the level nine Qi Refining Cultivator before him was nothing but air.

Seeing Hu Nan slight him so, Zhao Lei was instantly consumed by rage. A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes as all his Spiritual Qi erupted. Gripping his longsword tightly, with a flash of spiritual light under his feet, his figure rushed toward Hu Nan with a sharp sword momentum.

Clearly, Zhao Lei intended to end the battle quickly to prove his strength.

But before his longsword could get close to Hu Nan, Hu Nan had already moved.

Hu Nan lightly bypassed Zhao Lei's attack.

Before Zhao Lei could pull back to defend, Hu Nan's black wind sword was already pressed against his neck. The bone-chilling cold meant that with just a slight movement, Zhao Lei would be decapitated.

Zhao Lei trembled all over, his face instantly turning deathly pale. His eyes were filled with fear and disbelief; he opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He finally understood that Lin Hao's crushing defeat was not due to carelessness at all, but because Hu Nan's strength truly far exceeded their imagination. His thoughts from just now were simply laughable.

Hu Nan's expression remained indifferent as he sheathed the black wind sword: "I accept your concession."

Zhao Lei cupped his hands toward Hu Nan and leaped off the arena, not daring to look at Hu Nan again, slinking back into the crowd, no longer possessing any of his previous arrogance and certainty.

The entire venue fell into a brief silence once more, followed by an even more intense uproar.

Everyone was completely stunned. Hu Nan had actually defeated Zhao Lei, and still with an easy victory. This was enough to prove that his defeat of Lin Hao was not a fluke at all, but due to truly formidable strength!

But even so, there were still many Cultivators at the Late Stage of Qi Refining who held a glimmer of hope and wanted to try their hand.

The position of Arena Lord for the No. 13 Martial Arts Arena was too tempting. If one could take the title, they would enter the top sixteen and receive a large amount of rewards.

Furthermore, they didn't believe Hu Nan could truly defeat all the Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators so easily.

Following that, a Cultivator at the Peak of Level 8 Qi Refining leaped onto the stage, declaring a challenge to Hu Nan, but in just one move, he was defeated and sent flying off the arena;

Then, another Cultivator at the Early Stage of Level 9 Qi Refining took the stage, yet still couldn't last more than three moves before suffering a wretched defeat;

In just a short while, seven Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators had taken the stage to challenge him. Without exception, all were easily defeated by Hu Nan, either falling off the arena or fleeing in embarrassment. Not a single person could last three moves against Hu Nan.

On the arena, Hu Nan still stood quietly, his expression indifferent, his robes unstained by a single speck of dust, as if the person who had just consecutively defeated several Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators wasn't him.

But that composure and strength made all the Disciples feel fear, and no one dared to easily step up to challenge him anymore.

After all, Hu Nan had defeated several Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators in a row.

Zhang Han stood in the crowd, staring fixedly at the duels on the arena the entire time. The shock on his face gradually faded, replaced by deep confusion and bewilderment. He didn't speak for a long time.

He couldn't understand how this Hu Nan, whom he had known for years and who had always been silent, cowardly, and seemingly mediocre in cultivation, could become so powerful overnight.

The Hu Nan of the past always walked with his head down and spoke with great caution. Even if he was bullied, he would only endure in silence and never resist. Everyone looked down on him, thinking he was cowardly and incompetent.

But the current Hu Nan was composed and powerful, defeating Lin Hao in one move and crushing several Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators in succession. That aura and that strength made him seem like a completely different person from before.

"How... how did he become so outstanding?" Zhang Han murmured to himself, his voice weak, carrying a hint of bewilderment and disbelief.

"Senior Brother Hu, you are too amazing!"

"You are the pride of our Beihai Prefecture!"

"You will definitely win the Outer Sect Competition championship!"

"Senior Brother Hu, Beihai Prefecture is proud of you!"

Many fellow townsmen from Beihai Prefecture began to cheer one after another.

One by one, they all started to congratulate Hu Nan.

It was as if the people who had just mocked Hu Nan and expelled him from Beihai Prefecture weren't them at all.

As the last Level 7 Qi Refining Disciple who attempted to take the stage retreated in embarrassment, the battle for the Arena Lord of No. 13 Martial Arts Arena came to a complete close.

Hu Nan, with absolutely formidable strength, firmly secured the position of Arena Lord for the No. 13 Martial Arts Arena.