70: His initial talent was evident, but a murderous intent was lurking beneath the surface.

The voice of the Imperial Court Master of Ceremonies, amplified by the Formation, clearly echoed between heaven and earth, quelling the remaining clamor.

“This session's Prodigy Assembly, preliminary stage, will adopt the 'Reincarnation Arena Battle'!”

“All contestants, a total of one thousand and twenty-four people, will be randomly assigned through the 'Luck Golden Ranking' for one-on-one arena duels. Winners advance, while losers enter the loser's bracket, having one chance for a revival challenge. Ultimately, two hundred and fifty-six strong competitors will be decided to enter the next round of 'Secret Realm Trials'!”

“Now, all participating Prodigies, please inject a trace of spiritual power into the 'Identity Jade Tablet' in front of you, and the Golden Ranking will begin the assignments!”

As the words fell, a translucent light screen rose in each cubicle in the waiting area. The light screen displayed the contestant's basic information and a blank lot number.

Lin Fan took out his Identity Jade Tablet—a warm white jade, with his name and the words "Lin Family" engraved on the front, and the Great Xia Dynasty emblem on the back. He injected a trace of spiritual power into it.

Buzz! The jade tablet flashed with a faint light, and the blank lot number on the light screen was rapidly filled with swirling golden runes, finally settling on Area A, Third Arena, Seventh Match.

At the same time, the opponent's information appeared on the right side of the light screen: Han Li, Mysterious Yin Sect of the Northern Region.

“Area A, Third Arena. It seems we might not be in the same competition zone,” Ye Lingyun's voice came. His lot number was Area B.

“I'm in Area C,” Blazing Fierce grinned. “That's good, it's more exciting to meet a strong enemy early.”

Bright Wisdom, Blue Tide, and others also saw their respective lot numbers and opponents.

Lin Fan's gaze swept across the light screen. The opponent named Han Li had very simple information, only his name and Sect, with no cultivation level indicated, making him seem quite mysterious. The Mysterious Yin Sect, a second-rate Evil Path Sect in the Northern Region, was known for controlling Yin Souls and cultivating poisonous Cultivation Techniques.

“Preliminary opponents should vary in strength, the focus is on screening,” Lin Fan understood in his heart. In such a large-scale arena battle, it was difficult to encounter truly top-tier Prodigies in the Early Stages.

After the draw, the Master of Ceremonies announced that the preliminaries would begin immediately, with battles simultaneously taking place in the four major areas (A, B, C, D). The Formation in the waiting area cubicles changed, separating contestants from different competition zones, and at the same time, real-time viewing water mirrors for each arena in the corresponding zone appeared in each cubicle.

Lin Fan's Area A had eight arenas, arranged in a circular fashion. His match was the seventh in the third arena, with six matches preceding it.

He didn't rush to observe other arenas. Instead, he sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to rest. His Eternal Indestructible Body slowly circulated, resonating with the star pagoda, adjusting his state to its best. After the life-and-death struggle in Ancient Stele Alley, this arena competition, on the contrary, made his state of mind more peaceful.

Time flowed, and the battles on the arenas continued one after another.

Those who could come here were all Prodigies from various regions, none of them mediocre. The battles were often fierce and exciting, with various Cultivation Techniques, Martial Skills, and Magic Treasures emerging endlessly, drawing exclamations and praises from the stands. However, some matches had a significant disparity in strength, and the outcome was quickly decided.

In the water mirror, sword light and shadow, blazing flames and freezing ice, beast roars and thunder, were dazzling.

Lin Fan occasionally opened his eyes, scanning the water mirror to observe those who performed outstandingly. He saw Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo in the fifth arena, defeating a young martial monk from the Western Region Buddhist Kingdom in just three moves, displaying impressive strength. He also saw Jade Pool Saintess Meng Liuli in the Area B arena, gently waving her fair hand, and with a swirl of seven-colored light, her opponent fell to the ground in a daze, seemingly trapped in an illusion without realizing it, her methods mysterious and unfathomable.

After about an hour, it was finally time for the seventh match in Arena Three of Area A.

“Arena A3, Match Seven, Lin Fan of the Lin Family, against Han Li of the Mysterious Yin Sect! Both contestants, please ascend the stage!” The arena referee's voice transmitted through the Formation.

Lin Fan opened his eyes, stood up, straightened his robes, and stepped out of the cubicle.

The light before him shifted, and he was already standing on an arena a hundred zhang in circumference. The arena floor was made of sturdy "Obsidian Steel Rock," equipped with powerful protective and repair Formations, and surrounded by translucent energy barriers separating the inside from the outside. The wave-like clamor from the stands was filtered by the barrier, leaving only a low hum.

Across from him, a youth in a gray-black robe, with a sinister face and deep-set eyes, had also ascended the stage. It was Han Li. He was playing with two pitch-black bone beads in his hand, their surfaces emitting a faint green phosphorescent glow, exuding a cold, foul aura.

The referee was a steady-auraed middle-aged man in Imperial City Division attire, whose cultivation had reached the Peak Divine Power Realm. He glanced at the two and said in a deep voice, “Arena matches are to stop at the appropriate point; intentionally causing severe injury, disability, or death is forbidden. One party admitting defeat, falling off the arena, or losing combat capability signifies defeat. Violators will be severely punished! Understood?”

“Understood,” Lin Fan nodded.

Han Li forced an ugly smile and said hoarsely, “Understood.”

“Begin!” As soon as the referee Elder's voice fell, his figure drifted backward, leaving the arena to the two.

Han Li moved almost the instant the referee retreated! His figure was like a ghost, leaving a blur of gray shadows, and the two pitch-black bone beads in his hands collided fiercely!

“Pop!” With a soft sound, the two bone beads simultaneously exploded, transforming into two dense, inky, swirling black mists! Within the black mist, came waves of ear-splitting ghostly wails and wolf howls, and countless tormented, distorted illusory human faces flickered in and out of existence, rushing straight towards Lin Fan!

“Ten Thousand Ghosts Devouring Soul Smoke!” Someone knowledgeable in the stands exclaimed, “The Mysterious Yin Sect's vicious technique, specializing in attacking the Divine Soul and corroding spiritual power! This Han Li is truly ruthless!”

Before the black mist arrived, a bone-chilling coldness that penetrated the Soul had already enveloped the arena. Ordinary Condensing Spirit Realm Cultivators would likely feel their hands and feet turn cold and their reactions slow just from this invading aura.

However, Lin Fan stood still, not moving an inch. A faint golden light flowed over his body, and the Eternal Indestructible Body automatically activated, completely isolating the cold evil Qi. His Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils opened, golden light flashing. The seemingly terrifying black mist, in his eyes, was merely a mixture of pure Yin and evil energy and chaotic remnant Souls, its trajectory clearly discernible.

He didn't even move his feet, merely raised his right hand and pointed his index finger in the air.

Starlight condensed on his fingertip. It was not the Star-Breaking Void Finger that had severely injured the Shadow Hall assassin before, but the more basic, less energy-consuming Star Finger. A condensed ray of starlight shot out, directly into the center of the swirling black mist!

Hiss! It was like a scorching branding iron plunged into ice and snow. Wherever the starlight passed, the black mist violently churned and dissolved, and the illusory human faces let out silent, mournful screams, rapidly fading.

The Power of the Stars, being supremely Yang and righteous, was precisely the bane of such Yin and evil Cultivation Techniques!

“What?!” Han Li's expression changed, evidently not expecting his signature technique to be so easily countered. He hurriedly changed his hand Seals and chanted obscure incantations.

The remaining black mist abruptly contracted, transforming into a black mist snake, as thick as a bowl, with a single horn on its head. It hissed and lunged at Lin Fan with even greater speed, simultaneously opening its mouth to spew a foul-smelling green venom!

This time, Lin Fan moved. He shifted his feet, his figure like a willow swaying in the breeze, easily dodging the venom. At the same time, he clenched his left fist, golden light faintly visible, and punched towards the mist snake's 'seven-inch' vital point!

Indestructible Divine King Fist—Mountain Collapse!

Boom! The force of the punch erupted, fierce and unparalleled! The mist snake was directly blasted apart, turning back into a sky full of black Qi, but this time, the black Qi was much thinner, clearly severely wounded.

Han Li grunted, a trace of black blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth. Clearly, his connected spell had been broken, and he suffered a backlash. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of vital blood onto a dusty cloth bag at his waist.

“Come out, my darlings!” He grinned sinisterly and tore open the mouth of the cloth bag.

Wuwuwu, amidst mournful shrieks, three incredibly solid, gray-white figures emanating powerful resentment rushed out of the cloth bag! These were three "Vicious Ghosts" that he had refined and bound through cruel means. Each of them had an aura comparable to the Peak of the Condensing Spirit Realm, and they were incorporeal, making physical attacks largely ineffective. They specialized in attacking the Divine Soul and fought fearlessly!

The three Vicious Ghosts bared their fangs and claws, bringing with them bone-chilling Yin wind and mental shockwaves, pouncing on Lin Fan from three directions, reaching him in an instant!

A gasp of surprise rose from the stands. Controlling Vicious Ghosts was already a forbidden technique among the Evil Path. This Han Li dared to use it in plain sight, clearly being reckless, or rather, having something to rely on!

The arena referee frowned but did not immediately stop it. As long as it didn't violate explicit rules, he couldn't easily interfere.

Facing the three pouncing Vicious Ghosts, a trace of coldness finally flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. Such evil arts that refined ghosts with living Souls were intolerable by heavenly principles.

He no longer held back. With a thought, the star pagoda in his Dantian vibrated slightly.

“Starlight, cleanse!” Silently, pure, dazzling yet not blinding starlight suddenly bloomed around Lin Fan! This starlight seemed to contain the great power to purify all defilement in the world, rippling outwards from him like water.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle! The three Vicious Ghosts that had pounced close, upon contact with this starlight, immediately let out screams a hundred times more mournful than before! Dense black smoke rose from their bodies, and their forms rapidly became thin and transparent at a visible speed, like ice and snow melting under the scorching sun!

“No! My ghost servants!” Han Li's eyes were splitting with rage. These Vicious Ghosts were refined by him with countless efforts and resources, they were his greatest reliance! He frantically activated his spell, wanting to recall them, but under the shroud of starlight, his connection with the Vicious Ghosts was rapidly severed and purified!

In just two breaths, the three Vicious Ghosts, comparable to the Peak of the Condensing Spirit Realm, completely vanished into thin air within the pure starlight, leaving no trace behind.

Han Li was struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting out another large mouthful of blood. His aura instantly became extremely weak, his face ashen, and his eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

Lin Fan took a step forward, already in front of Han Li, his eyes cold.

“I admit...” Han Li was terrified and was about to concede. However, Lin Fan's palm had already lightly pressed onto his Dantian.

A condensed yet incomparably domineering Power of the Stars penetrated his body, instantly shattering Han Li's already disordered protective Yin Qi, precisely sealing his Qi Sea. At the same time, an extremely subtle wisp of Divine Sense, fused with the insight of the Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils, forcefully pierced into the opponent's Sea of Consciousness, plundering his surface memories!

He wanted to know if this Han Li had contacted anyone special or received any special instructions before the match! How dared a disciple from a second-rate Sect like the Mysterious Yin Sect so recklessly use ghost-refining evil arts at the Imperial Capital Assembly?

“Ah!” Han Li let out a short scream, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, having fainted. Lin Fan's seemingly light press not only sealed his cultivation but also damaged his Divine Soul, making it difficult to recover without several months of recuperation.

“Lin Fan wins!” the referee immediately announced, while giving Lin Fan a deep look. The starlight that purified the Vicious Ghosts and the method of sealing cultivation at the end both made him feel a hint of alarm.

There was first a moment of silence in the stands, then a burst of fervent discussion.

“What powerful Power of the Stars! It can purify Vicious Ghosts so thoroughly!”

“That Han Li brought it upon himself, daring to use ghost-refining evil arts!”

“The Lin Family Divine Son truly lives up to his reputation!”

Lin Fan ignored the discussions around him. He withdrew his hand, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. From Han Li's chaotic surface memories, he caught a brief image: last night, a blurry figure shrouded in shadow, in a secluded inn room, handed Han Li a Storage Pouch and whispered, “On the arena, use your most ruthless methods against that Lin Family boy. Afterwards, I guarantee your entry into the core of the Mysterious Yin Sect, with additional heavy rewards.”

Although there was no direct evidence pointing to Great Elder or Shadow Hall, this was enough to prove that Han Li was instigated by someone, deliberately targeting him on the arena, and possibly even wanting to severely injure or cripple him under the guise of an “accident”!

“Sure enough, someone doesn't want me to proceed smoothly,” a cold glint flashed in Lin Fan's eyes.

He stepped down from the arena and returned to his cubicle in the waiting area. Lin Feng and Lin Xue immediately gathered around him, extremely excited.

But Lin Fan calmly sat down, his gaze sweeping over the water mirror, looking at other arenas, especially those where hostile figures might be hidden.

In the first preliminary match, he won cleanly and decisively, even somewhat "cruelly" crippling his opponent's cultivation. But this was just the beginning.

The gazes from the shadows, like maggots on bones, still existed. He looked up, towards the highest purple-gold viewing platform, where Xia Qingyue also seemed to be withdrawing her gaze from the arena he was on. Their eyes met for an instant across the air.

Lin Fan nodded slightly, then closed his eyes again.

The hunt has just begun. And the hunter is not necessarily always hiding in the dark.