Tian Qiyu’s figure moved swiftly, shooting out like a shadow. However, when he was still ten feet away from Lin Chen, he suddenly split into three shadows as if he had multiplied himself.

One becomes three!

On the stands, Kong Qing’s pupils contracted slightly. He had lost to this move of Tian Qiyu’s before.

One becomes three, real yet fake.

The speed was so fast he couldn’t determine which one was the real Tian Qiyu.

However, just because Kong Qing couldn’t judge doesn’t mean Lin Chen couldn’t.

"A body technique evolved from a blade technique will always have traces of it."

After over two months of practice with Junior Brother Fang, Lin Chen’s skill with the blade was unmatched by anyone.

In that instant when Tian Qiyu’s figure split into three, Lin Chen unhesitatingly struck towards the left. This palm landed precisely on Tian Qiyu’s arm.

"Judged correctly!"

Seeing this scene, Kong Qing’s eyes lit up, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

The majority of the audience were young martial artists from Liang.

The moment Lin Chen’s palm landed on Tian Qiyu’s arm, disbelief filled Tian Qiyu’s face. How could the opponent have determined his position?

Was it a coincidence?

Unfortunately, before Tian Qiyu could ponder, his expression twisted in pain as a terrifying force crashed down like a wave when his arm was struck.

Crack!

The onlookers heard the crisp sound of a bone breaking and saw Tian Qiyu’s right arm twist and convulse like a pretzel.

Spurt!

A mouthful of blood spewed from Tian Qiyu’s mouth as he staggered back several steps.

This scene left the new disciples of the Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy and the viscera-refining martial artists below the stage dumbfounded.

For a palm to strike the arm and cause Tian Qiyu to cough blood, it indicated that this palm had injured his internal organs.

"I knew it, I knew it!"

Yu Fei was extremely excited. If it weren’t for the need to keep Senior Brother Lin’s identity hidden, he would’ve shouted out in triumph.

Below, several junior brothers beside Meng Xing couldn’t help but gulp. Tian Qiyu was defeated in just one move.

The disciples from the Sihe Martial Arts Academy across the stage were staring intensely, barely believing what they saw. Even Benshan Lang no longer held his previous contempt.

"Hahaha, what a fine lad!"

In the center of the stands, Hao Jifeng burst into laughter. The stoic face he’d worn since the battle began finally broke into a smile.

Lin Chen, you arrived at the perfect moment, so satisfying!

Beside him, Sihe Martial Arts Academy’s Vice Dean Xiangyuan Chuan looked incredulous, then spoke in a deep voice amidst Hao Jifeng’s laughter: "As one of the Four Great Martial Arts Academies of Liang, the Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy resorts to such base measures?"

Hao Jifeng’s expression turned serious, and he locked eyes with Xiangyuan Chuan. At that moment, the momentum of two Third Grade martial artists clashed.

"Sihe Martial Arts Academy chose to challenge my Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy against the rules, and we did not refuse. Now you call us base; you’re truly trying to reverse the truth!"

He had tolerated this old man for a long time, who had been constantly mocking him. If not for the need to maintain appearances, he would’ve retaliated long ago.

"In martial exchanges between academies, it’s about comparing students of the same year. This time, the six disciples our Sihe Martial Arts Academy brought are all new students, and their identities can be verified at the United Martial Arts Academy."

"Our Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy also fielded new students!"

Xiangyuan Chuan sneered and shouted, "To save face, your Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy broke the rules. I fear this person isn’t a new disciple of your academy."

As Xiangyuan Chuan’s voice fell, nearly all the onlookers heard him, and murmurs began to spread rapidly among the crowd.

Among the Liang martial artists, it was manageable, as they were on home turf. But the foreign martial artists began voicing their loud suspicions.

"It could be true; if Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy had such powerful disciples, why hide them until now?"

"Looks like Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy cheated."

"Afraid to lose face, they probably brought in someone who’s been refining the viscera for years."

An elder with a red cinnabar mark on his forehead standing beside Hao Jifeng also spoke quietly: "Brother Hao, an explanation is needed."

"An explanation?"

Hao Jifeng’s lips curved into a smile. Of course, he would explain.

"If you want an explanation, I can provide one."

Everyone on site perked up, including Kong Qing and Zhang Ming in the corner. They couldn’t believe Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy would resort to cheating, but they couldn’t imagine anyone who could defeat Tian Qiyu in one move.

Hao Jifeng looked at Lin Chen with admiration and pronounced word by word: "Standing on that stage is a model student of the Liang Martial Arts Academy, a model student of Jiangnan Dao, and a seven-time name-keeper at the Martial Arts Mountain!"

With Hao Jifeng’s announcement, silence enveloped the entire Martial Arts Arena.

Kong Qing’s pupils contracted behind his mask: "It’s him!"

Zhang Ming also realized: "How could we have forgotten about him."

The majority of the onlookers were viscera-refining martial artists; Grade-Entering Martial Artists were few. To the Liang martial artists, a few months ago, the most talked-about event was a certain genius breaking Pei Qingming’s record with seven mentions at Martial Arts Mountain.

"Lin Chen, Senior Brother Lin, formidable!"

Finally, unable to hold back, Yu Fei roared out; since Dean Hao had already revealed Senior Brother Lin’s identity, there was no need to hide it anymore.

With Yu Fei’s shout, numerous young martial artists on the scene echoed his cheer.

"So, is Lin Chen a new disciple of this year’s Liang Martial Arts Academy?"

Hao Jifeng looked at the two beside him, and Xiangyuan Chuan and Du Nansheng exchanged glances. Before coming to Liang, they had naturally investigated the situation of this year’s Martial Arts Academy disciples and had heard Lin Chen’s name.

More accurately, after Lin Chen set a record at Liang Martial Arts Mountain, his fame began to spread in small circles across various nations.

"Lin Chen, although a disciple of the Canglan Martial Arts Academy, officially became an exchange student at our Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy five days ago. According to United Martial Arts Academy rules, he is also a disciple of our academy."

Hao Jifeng wasn’t going to let the two continue questioning. With one sentence, he shut them up.

It was clear to all that Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy brought Lin Chen to save the day, but so what?

Your Sihe Martial Arts Academy and Pilgrim Martial Arts Academy came knocking prematurely and against the rules, yet our academy responded in accordance.

For the Liang martial artists present, what did it matter if it was a Lingxiao disciple or a Canglan disciple participating?

It didn’t matter! 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

As long as they were from Liang.

And as Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy didn’t break the rules, there was nothing more to criticize.

To many Liang martial artists, even if Lin Chen weren’t an exchange student of Lingxiao, it wouldn’t matter.

As long as they won.

Regarding after-the-fact disputes and verbal battles with the martial artists from Zheng Kingdom and Xiang Kingdom, leave it to them.

It all boiled down to whether Lin Chen was a new academy disciple.

Whether Lin Chen won was what mattered.

Justifying!

Arguing is for the home team; reasoning with the Zheng Kingdom people means standing by kin, not ethics!

PS: It’s the end of the month, requesting monthly tickets!