"The next arena match is in five days, prepare yourselves well!"
With forty people selected and divided among five arenas, that meant eight people per arena. Thus, upon seeing the arena where Fang Ming and others were, and the fighting had reduced to eight participants, Dao Xuan called a halt to the combat.
Fang Ming and his three companions, along with Lei Jian, looked over. They saw that in the fierce battle, only eight people remained on this arena. Besides the four from the Lin family and Lei Jian, there were three other cultivators.
No one dared to interfere with the battle between the four from the Lin family and Lei Jian, so these three cultivators eliminated others, thereby avoiding a confrontation with Fang Ming and his group.
"Hmph! It seems they're calling a truce. You just wait, this isn't over yet."
Lei Jian snorted coldly and prepared to leave. He dared not defy the orders of the Golden Core True Person.
He had seen the fate of the Lei family member who had previously defied the Golden Core True Person's orders.
Lei Jian understood profoundly that no matter how much of a prodigy he was in Liangcheng Commandery, he was nothing before True Person Dao Xuan, nor would he receive any special treatment due to his status in the Lei family.
If True Person Dao Xuan was determined to cripple his cultivation, the Lei family would only be able to express their anger in silence.
Therefore, with such a precedent, Lei Jian, despite believing he could quickly eliminate Fang Ming as a threat, dared not act against Dao Xuan's command.
Though arrogant and conceited, he also knew he could not violate the rules set by True Person Dao Xuan.
Since he couldn't act, he could only resort to words.
This was what Lei Jian thought, and this was precisely what he did, issuing his threat.
Furthermore, after issuing his threat, he glared fiercely at Fang Ming before leaving. Fang Ming knew this person had definitely taken a grudge against him.
"If you want to fight, I'm happy to oblige," Fang Ming replied without giving him any face, meeting his gaze with coldness.
"You'll know how you die! Don't be too arrogant!" Lei Jian retorted coldly.
Lei Jian hadn't expected Fang Ming, such a young brat, to be so formidable. It could be said that without Fang Ming, the Lei family would certainly have defeated Lin Junjie and the other two, securing their spots. How could it be like now, with only him left?
Even he himself couldn't take down the four from the Lin family!
This was simply a humiliation for Lei Jian, who considered himself the number one prodigy in Liangcheng Commandery.
It was an utter disgrace!
However, Lei Jian also knew that this was one person fighting four.
If it were a one-on-one duel, Fang Ming would certainly not be able to defeat him.
"Lin Xuan, you were able to pressure one person with four, and that's because the rule was a free-for-all! The arena matches later are one-on-one. If you encounter me... you won't win!"
Lei Jian was very confident.
He had fought against the four from the Lin family earlier and knew clearly that Fang Ming's strength was only at the ninth level of Meridian Condensation. In a one-on-one fight, he was sure he could beat Fang Ming to a pulp.
Could a tenth-level Meridian Condensation cultivator fighting a ninth-level one possibly be overturned?
Therefore, even though Lei Jian was evenly matched, and even at a disadvantage in this battle, he felt no fear of Fang Ming in his heart.
After issuing his harsh words, he left directly.
Watching Lei Jian walk away, Lin Qingwan said, "Little Xuan, you're amazing! I think your strength has surpassed that of big brother Lin Junjie! If it weren't for you this time, we really wouldn't have been able to deal with Lei Jian."
Lin Junjie was the number one prodigy of the Lin family. If anyone had told Lin Qingwan before that someone could surpass Lin Junjie at the age of fourteen, she would have thought they were a fool. How could such a genius, a monstrous talent, exist?
But now, Lin Qingwan could only admit that such peerless geniuses truly existed in this world, and they were even in the Lin family! It seemed the rise of the Lin family was imminent!
Lin Junjie, standing nearby, nodded. He wasn't a jealous person, so when Lin Qingwan said Fang Ming's current strength surpassed his, the Lin family's number one prodigy, he didn't refute it. After all, they had all witnessed Fang Ming's performance during the fight.
Lin Xuan indeed possessed such strength, and he deserved that title!
In the vast world, change was eternal. Lin Junjie was not Lin Yao. He wouldn't feel jealous that a genius had emerged from the Lin family, surpassing him and taking away his title of number one prodigy. Instead, he would be happy.
Change was eternal, and he was not an invincible existence. He wouldn't, like those who were jealous, try to prevent such "change." He knew it was futile.
Lin Yao had done that, and Lin Yao had fallen.
And he, Lin Junjie, would naturally make a different choice.
"Fang Ming, your strength is indeed greater than mine now! And with your talent, possessing such strength at this age... your future is boundless!" Lin Junjie said to Fang Ming with a smile.
He was genuinely happy for Fang Ming that the Lin family had produced such a genius.
"However, given Lei Jian's character, you shouldn't have retorted just now. From my understanding of him, he has definitely taken a grudge against you," Lin Junjie said with concern. Fang Ming's talent pleased him greatly, but Fang Ming's ability to retort gave him a headache.
"If I hadn't retorted, would he not have held a grudge against me?" Fang Ming asked. He understood that ever since he had kicked those Lei family cultivators off the arena, hatred was unavoidable. So, retorting a little more wouldn't hurt and would also show that he wasn't afraid of the other party.
It projected an aura of not being inferior to the opponent.
"You have a point. I didn't expect you to see through it better than I did," Lin Junjie mused, then understood the reasoning.
However, offending Lei Jian, a prodigy of the Lei family, meant more trouble in the future.
Since this couldn't be changed, Lin Junjie could only sigh helplessly.
"There are five days until the next competition. After this arena battle, I've gained new insights into sword techniques and need to go back to the family's training grounds to practice," Lin Qingwan said, then changed the subject. "Lin Xuan, what about you?"
"Where are you planning to go?"
She seemed to want to invite me along. Was it because she saw how skilled my swordplay was during this fight?
Fang Ming immediately thought of this reason.
However, he didn't plan to go.
With only five days left, he intended to venture into the depths of the Taihang Mountains to try his luck, to see if he could find the blood of the Hidden Moon Rat.
And then, he could practice the Profound Technique known as the Stellar Sword Art.
If he stayed within the Lin family, he would have no means to acquire the necessary materials.
Clearly, Fang Ming would not do that.
After considering, Fang Ming declined, "No, I'm going to the Taihang Mountains... I feel that fighting with demonic beasts can improve my strength."
"There's no need to go to the family's training hall."
"I feel that it won't significantly enhance my combat power."
After saying this, Fang Ming bid farewell to everyone and set off, officially heading towards the Taihang Mountains. He didn't even plan to go back to the family for a night's sleep.
Therefore, after Fang Ming left, only a few people were left looking at each other in bewilderment.
Because Fang Ming's decision was so unusual, everyone was momentarily speechless and could only remain silent.
After a long while, Lin Junjie, among the three, spoke first, sighing, "Lin Xuan's actions are truly beyond imagination. He's going to the Taihang Mountains to fight demonic beasts and hone his combat prowess, instead of returning to the family's training hall."