Chapter 473: The Number One Rookie

"Wanna know? Beg me."

Upon hearing Ling Chen’s teasing words, Han Yu’s expression suddenly turned cold.

He dared to propose a deathmatch to Ling Chen because he was confident in his own strength. With his hidden prowess, he could easily annihilate Ling Chen. But now, the situation was wildly beyond his expectations.

Ling Chen’s martial arts realm had actually reached the level of projecting inner strength externally, which dealt a great blow to his confidence. Who would have thought that this guy was concealing even more deeply than himself? From a sure win to a fifty-fifty situation, how could he not be worried?

During his contemplation, watching Ling Chen approach step by step, Han Yu’s eyes flashed fiercely, his expression as somber as water.

"Come on, continue."

Ling Chen hooked his finger, gesturing for Han Yu to make a move.

"Don’t be arrogant in front of me; you’re not worthy." As the words fell, Han Yu let out a thunderous shout, pushed off the ground suddenly with both feet, and leaped up high like a great roc spreading its wings, rushing towards Ling Chen at breakneck speed.

Seeing the Longquan Sword stabbing down from above, Ling Chen lightly moved his feet, shifting positions while dodging the long sword’s attacks.

After several strikes missed, Han Yu’s face grew uglier and uglier. Without waiting for Ling Chen to counterattack, he advanced with his sword again, pressing step by step, not giving Ling Chen a chance to fight back.

Seeing Ling Chen continuously retreating under Han Yu’s onslaught, the crowd couldn’t help but worry.

Although Ling Chen’s sudden burst of strength was eye-catching, he was at a disadvantage in terms of weaponry. And his arrows were all used up; he only had a longbow in hand, which was of no use. If he couldn’t solve this problem, the risk Ling Chen was facing would undoubtedly be far greater.

Just then, a scene that played out on the stage made everyone stand up in unison, their faces showing disbelief and shock as they looked at Ling Chen.

Under Han Yu’s frenzied offensive, the originally disadvantaged Ling Chen suddenly seized the opportunity and used the bowstring of the longbow to entangle the blade of the Longquan Sword.

The Longquan Sword was sharp indeed, but the longbow in Ling Chen’s hands was personally forged by the master artisan Guo Liang; even a simple bowstring was tempered through a thousand hammerings.

"Release!"

Ling Chen softly shouted and pulled hard on the longbow, forcibly yanking the Longquan Sword from Han Yu’s hands.

With the long sword snatched away, Han Yu’s face instantly turned pale as he hurriedly closed in, trying to take back the Longquan Sword. However, Ling Chen, having finally seized the sword, was not about to give him the chance.

Not allowing Han Yu to come close, Ling Chen twisted on the ball of his foot, unleashing a sweeping leg kick that forced Han Yu back several steps.

It’s over!

Everyone gloated over Han Yu’s predicament.

Without the Longquan Sword, Han Yu’s advantage had vanished. Everyone knew that Han Yu’s greatest strength lay in his swordsmanship, not hand-to-hand combat. On the other hand, Ling Chen, especially in the previous fights, such as the deathmatch with Yi Shuiyan, demonstrated his brutal and ruthless hand-to-hand skills, filled with malice and murderous intent.

If it came down to just hand-to-hand combat, Han Yu would likely be no match for Ling Chen.

As everyone anticipated the turning of the tables, Ling Chen, with one hand holding the bow and the other wielding the Longquan Sword, looked at Han Yu with a calm gaze.

"Come again!"

Faced with Ling Chen’s provocation, Han Yu stood at the edge of the stage with a darkened face, hesitating and lingering, not daring to make a move.

Seeing this, Ling Chen took a big step forward and actively walked towards Han Yu.

Seeing Ling Chen closing in step by step, Han Yu finally lost his composure, retreating continuously around the edge of the platform.

Suddenly, Han Yu clenched his teeth, turned around violently, and leaped off the platform, sprinting away from the event.

"I concede defeat in today’s battle. Ling Chen, mountains remain unchanged, rivers flow forever, remember this!"

As Han Yu’s words echoed throughout the venue, everyone present was stunned. They had not expected Han Yu to act so shamelessly, not only giving up the duel but also fleeing directly.

Watching Han Yu’s retreating figure, Ling Chen silently placed the Longquan Sword on his bow, drawing the bow fully.

Whoosh!

Accompanied by a whooshing sound, the Longquan Sword shot out instantly.

"Young Master, be careful!"

The Han Family members who came with Han Yu saw Ling Chen’s sudden move, their faces changed dramatically, and they quickly cried out in warning.

By this time, Han Yu had no idea what was happening behind him. Hearing the voice of his family from the back, he instinctively turned around, only to see a flash of sword light.

Before he could react, the sword light pierced directly through his chest, impaling his body.

Looking at the Longquan Sword in his chest, Han Yu’s face gradually turned pale. He lifted his head, looking blankly towards Ling Chen on the platform, his mouth twitching slightly as if he wanted to say something. However, before he could speak, his body fell straight down, eyes wide open, motionless on the ground.

Dead?

For a moment, the venue was dead silent. Although no one had much affection for Han Yu, the shock was undeniable when they saw him killed by Ling Chen.

There had never been a death in the Heavenly Mechanism Great Ceremony before, but this session had undoubtedly broken precedent.

"Ling Chen, how dare you kill our young master! I’ll fight you to the death!"

Several Han Family members in the seating area glared at Ling Chen, with hatred in their eyes, they rushed to the platform, determined to kill Ling Chen to avenge their young master.

"Stop!" At this moment, Zhou Qi’s cold voice commanded, "Han Yu’s death was his own doing. Agreeing to a fight to the death, you should have anticipated this outcome. Anyone who dares to disrupt the rules and seek private revenge against Ling Chen, don’t blame Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion for being merciless."

With these words, the faces of the Han Family turned very ugly.

Zhou Qi’s intent was clear; they could not seek revenge against Ling Chen now or even after the Heavenly Mechanism Great Ceremony ended. Otherwise, it would be opposing the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.

They were well aware that Zhou Qi’s sudden show of force had a lot to do with Han Yu’s death. Had Han Yu lived, his future in martial arts would have been boundless, and the talent-valuing Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion would naturally have granted certain concessions. Now with Han Yu dead, there was no need for the pavilion to give any face to the Han Family.

"Get down!"

Hearing Zhou Qi’s scolding, the Han Family members looked poisonously at Ling Chen, wishing they could slay him on the spot. However, facing the intimidation from Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, the Han Family ultimately did not dare to act, sadly descending from the platform and removing Han Yu’s body from the venue.

After they left, Zhou Qi stepped onto the platform, looked around at the audience, and announced aloud, "I declare that Ling Chen is the victor of this battle; he will face Song Ge in the final duel..."

"Elder Zhou."

Song Ge rose from his seat, smiling as he said, "As everyone has seen the duel just now, I think there’s no need to continue."

Zhou Qi, with a surprised look, asked, "You’re giving up?"

"Indeed," Song Ge nodded, "First place, Ling Chen truly deserves it."