Chapter 459: Disdain to Kill You

Ling Chen’s words struck Yi Shuiyan’s heart like a heavy hammer, nearly leaving him breathless.

Faced with Ling Chen’s gaze, Yi Shuiyan opened his mouth but was at a loss for words. He had thought the battle was a sure win, but he did not expect to end up in such a situation. Whether he believed it or not, this was the reality before his eyes.

"I... I admit defeat!" After hesitating, Yi Shuiyan struggled to utter these three words. After speaking, he walked off the stage listlessly, like a deflated ball.

"Stop right there!"

Hearing Ling Chen’s voice from behind, Yi Shuiyan turned his head back, frowning, and said, "I’ve already admitted defeat, what more do you want?"

Ling Chen replied with a smile that was not quite a smile: "Do you have a problem with your ears, or is it your memory? I just said, a fight to the death, without seeing life or death, doesn’t end until I accept it. You have to stay on the stage."

"Ling Chen, don’t push people too far," Zhu Jin, from the seating area, called out coldly.

"I am a reasonable person. It was you who proposed a fight to the death, not me. Why am I the one pushing people too far? Do you think I’m easy to bully?" Saying this, Ling Chen turned his head to Zhou Qi and asked, "Elder Zhou, could you give us your judgment? Am I right?"

Zhou Qi nodded and said, "Ling Chen is correct. Since it is a fight to the death, it must witness life or death. Yi Shuiyan, you may admit defeat, but only if Ling Chen agrees. As you just mentioned, everyone here is a witness. Do you intend to break the rules?" At this point, Zhou Qi looked at Zhu Jin in the audience and said, "Master Zhu, the battle is a matter between the two of them; you best not interfere."

At this moment, everyone present adopted an attitude of watching a good show, looking at Dangyang Sect’s members and Yi Shuiyan.

It was like lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own feet—perhaps the best description for Dangyang Sect.

On the stage, Yi Shuiyan’s face was ashen, and his forehead was, unbeknownst to him, covered in sweat. Just thinking about the possible outcome made his face turn even whiter.

He was still young with a promising future. To die here would be far too unworthy.

At this time, Ling Chen, leisurely and carefree, looked at Yi Shuiyan with an inscrutable smile, showing no intention of acting. Suddenly, Ling Chen took a step forward, walking straight up to Yi Shuiyan, silent, just staring into his eyes.

Under such a bizarre situation, the whole place fell silent, and all eyes focused on Ling Chen and Yi Shuiyan, waiting for the outcome of the battle.

Confronted with Ling Chen’s stare, Yi Shuiyan appeared to freeze, motionless, sweat sliding down his cheeks onto the ground, not daring to breathe heavily, the unease in his eyes growing more intense.

After a brief silence, Ling Chen’s gaze turned cold, his face became stern, and he suddenly raised his arm. Yi Shuiyan’s face changed dramatically at the sight, instinctively stepping back, raising both hands to protect himself.

However, after several seconds, Ling Chen’s attack never came.

Looking closely, Ling Chen was seen scratching the back of his head with a mocking smile, not planning on striking at all.

Yi Shuiyan instantly realized that he had been tricked by Ling Chen.

People in the audience shook their heads at Yi Shuiyan’s reaction, thinking his mental fortitude was far too weak. Even with good martial skills and excellent talents, without psychological strength, one could hardly become a master.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qi, watching the battle below, also showed a look of disappointment. As the host of the Heavenly Mechanism Great Ceremony, he was responsible not only for maintaining order but also for assessing every member on the Newcomer List in every aspect.

Any talent, even if not ranked within the top three, would be nurtured through other means by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.

Unfortunately, Yi Shuiyan’s performance was truly disappointing.

"Back in East Sea City, you said I was not worthy to be your opponent. Now, I’m going to return that sentence to you; you’re even less qualified to be mine."

Ling Chen looked at Yi Shuiyan with a serene expression, pronouncing each word slowly: "A person not qualified to be my opponent, I’m not interested in killing you."

"I accept your surrender."

After saying that, Ling Chen turned and walked down from the stage.

Watching Ling Chen’s departing figure, Yi Shuiyan clenched his teeth, his eyes filled with a cold and venomous look. The murmurs around him were excessively irritating; he wanted nothing more than to leave immediately, and he jumped off the stage, rushing toward the exit.

Seeing his disciple so devastated, Zhu Jin heaved a silent sigh and turned his head to say, "Qin Wu, go check on your senior brother and comfort him."

"Yes, Master."

Qin Wu replied and followed Yi Shuiyan out of the assembly.

At this moment, among the seating area of the eight eccentrics, Wei Jiahao, with a big thumbs-up, excitedly laughed and said, "Ling Chen, that was brilliant! Your last few words were really too cool."

"Really?" Ling Chen grinned: "I think so too."

Yuan Yun patted Ling Chen’s shoulder and praised without stinginess: "Not bad, well done, you’re progressing amazingly fast."

Everyone was pleased, and Xu Ming, somewhat puzzled, looked at Ling Chen and asked, "When did your Inner Strength cultivation become so strong? You didn’t show such great improvement in the previous matches."

Hearing this, Qiu Yong chimed in: "I also noticed that. Ling Chen, based on what happened just now, your Inner Strength has more than doubled. How did you manage that in just a few days? Are you hiding something from us?"

Ling Chen quickly waved his hands and said, "Big brother, I haven’t hidden anything from you all." He scratched his head, puzzled: "To be honest, I don’t even know why. Recently, I suddenly felt my Inner Strength growing rapidly, and I was wondering if it could be due to the Heavenly Mechanism Pill."

"Impossible!" Qiu Yong shook his head and said, "You only took an ordinary Heavenly Mechanism Pill. I took a higher-quality one and didn’t experience such a change, so it’s even less likely for you. It must be something else."

"Could it be because of the Internal Cultivation Methods I practice?"

Qiu Yong and the others exchanged glances, unable to come up with an answer.

"Let’s not think about it anymore. As long as Ling Chen wins safely, that’s all that matters," Zhang Zhongfeng said. "Besides, progression is always a good thing."

Yang Chen, smiling, said, "With Ling Chen winning this match, a spot in the top three is assured. Now it’s just a matter of who will take the last place in this afternoon’s matches."

"As long as there are no surprises, the winner will surely be Song Ge," Ling Chen said.

The Tea Girl had mentioned to him that Song Ge’s top spot on the Newcomer List was indisputable. Even other members within the top five did not dispute his selection as number one. This indicated that if Song Ge faced Qu Jinxian, he should have an overwhelming advantage.

What Ling Chen was concerned with now was not the afternoon’s battle, but rather who his next opponent would be. He wondered if it might be Han Yu.